Research Mentor Name
Warren Lockette
Research Mentor Email Address
ab1289@wayne.edu
Institution / Department
Department of Physiology
Document Type
Research Abstract
Research Type
basicbio
Graduate Level Research
no
Abstract
VARIATION IN BARORECEPTOR SENSITIVITY PREVENTS GENERALIZED ANXIETY. Alexander Weaver, Jack Summers, Judy Taha, Zak Miklja, Warren Lockette. Division of Endocrinology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI.
Key words: anxiety, baroreceptors, cardiovascular disease, PIEZO 1, humans, instantaneous baroreceptor sensitivity
BACKGROUND
We reported ex vivo measurements of PIEZO 1 channel activity in erythrocytes can predict those individuals with high levels of generalized anxiety. Because PIEZO 1 channels are expressed in cardiac baroreceptors, we next tested our hypothesis that contrasts in generalized anxiety in the population could be due to individual differences in PIEZO 1-dependent instantaneous baroreceptor sensitivity.
METHODS
Thirteen healthy subjects were instrumented for real time photoplethysmography recordings of blood pressure and heart rate (Finapres™). Instantaneous baroreceptor sensitivity was calculated using the sequence method in resting subjects and after they were stressed with the cold pressor test. The mean values, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation for instantaneous baroreceptor sensitivity were calculated. Measurement of state anxiety was assessed using a validated questionnaire (State Trait Anxiety Inventory™).
RESULTS
Compared to values obtained while subjects were at rest, cold stress significantly blunted spontaneous baroreceptor sensitivity (0.023 + 0.004 vs. 0.016 + 0.003, p < 0.05). The magnitude of resting instantaneous baroreceptor activity correlated with cold stress-induced spontaneous baroreceptor activity, Spearman’s r = 0.588, p = 0.03. Greater state trait anxiety was associated with smaller cold-induced reductions in spontaneous baroreceptor sensitivity (Spearman’s r = -0.610, p = 0.03. When compared to anxious individuals, men and women with lower anxiety had greater variation in their spontaneous baroreceptor activity at rest, Spearman’s r = -0.761, p = 0.0035.
CONCLUSIONS
Generalized anxiety is a disorder of the heart, and one’s sensitivity of their PIEZO 1 channels in cardiac baroreceptors contribute significantly to physiological and emotional well-being.
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
Recommended Citation
Weaver, Alexander; Summers, Jack; Taha, Judy; Miklja, Zachary; and Lockette, Warren, "Variation In Baroreceptor Sensitivity Prevents Generalized Anxiety" (2026). Medical Student Research Symposium. 499.
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/som_srs/499