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A New Look at Cardiac Defense: Attention or Emotion?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 April 2014

Jaime Vila ,
María Carmen Fernández ,
Joaquín Pegalajar ,
María Nieves Vera ,
Humbelina Robles ,
Nieves Pérez ,
María B. Sánchez ,
Isabel Ramírez  and
Elisabeth Ruiz-Padial
Jaime Vila*
Affiliation:
University of Granada
María Carmen Fernández
Affiliation:
University of Granada
Joaquín Pegalajar
Affiliation:
University of Granada
María Nieves Vera
Affiliation:
University of Granada
Humbelina Robles
Affiliation:
University of Granada
Nieves Pérez
Affiliation:
University of Granada
María B. Sánchez
Affiliation:
University of Granada
Isabel Ramírez
Affiliation:
University of Granada
Elisabeth Ruiz-Padial
Affiliation:
University of Granada
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Jaime Vila, Departamento de Personalidad de Evaluación y Tratamiento Psicológico, Facultad de Psicología, Campus La Cartuja s/n, 18011 Granada (Spain). E-mail: jvila@ugr.es
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Abstract

The study of cardiac defense has a long tradition in psychological research both within the cognitive approach—linked to Pavlov, Sokolov, and Graham's work on sensory reflexes—and within the motivational one—linked to the work of Cannon and subsequent researchers on the concepts of activation and stress. These two approaches have been difficult to reconcile in the past. We summarize a series of studies on cardiac defense from a different perspective, which allows integration of the traditional approaches. This new perspective emphasizes a sequential process interpretation of the cardiac defense response. Results of descriptive and parametric studies, as well as those of studies examining the physiological and psychological mechanisms underlying the response, show a complex response pattern with both accelerative and decelerative components, with both sympathetic and parasympathetic influences, and with both attentional and emotional significance. The implications of this new look at cardiac defense are discussed in relation to defensive reactions in natural settings, the brain mechanisms controlling such reactions, and their effects on health and illness.

El estudio de la respuesta cardiaca de defensa tiene una larga tradición en la investigación psicológica, tanto desde la perspectiva cognitiva –vinculada a los trabajos de Pavlov, Sokolov y Graham sobre los reflejos sensoriales–, como desde la perspectiva motivacional –vinculada a los trabajos de Cannon e investigadores posteriores, sobre los conceptos de activación y estrés–. Estas dos perspectivas han sido difíciles de integrar en el pasado. El presente artículo resume una serie de estudios sobre la respuesta cardiaca de defensa, desde una perspectiva diferente, que permite integrar las dos aproximaciones tradicionales. La nueva perspectiva hace hincapié en una interpretación procesual y secuencial de la respuesta cardiaca de defensa. Los resultados de estudios descriptivos y paramétricos, junto con los de estudios que examinan los mecanismos fisiológicos y psicológicos subyacentes a la respuesta, ponen de manifiesto un patrón complejo de cambios cardiacos en los que aparecen componentes tanto acelerativos como desacelerativos, con influencias simpáticas y parasimpáticas, y con significación tanto atencional como emocional. Las implicaciones de esta nueva visión de la respuesta defensiva del corazón se discuten en relación con la defensa en contextos naturales, los mecanismos cerebrales que controlan tales reacciones y sus efectos sobre la salud y la enfermedad.

Keywords

heart ratedefense reflexstartle reflexattentionemotionstresstasa cardiacareflejo defensivoreflejo de sobresaltoatenciónemociónestrés
Type
Research trends
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 6 , Issue 1 , May 2003 , pp. 60 - 78
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2003

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