Blood pressure, heart rate, and changes in facial
and finger blood flow were monitored in 24 male Chinese
and 24 male Caucasians while they described anger-provoking
incidents and read out neutral material, either loudly
and rapidly or softly and slowly. Describing the incidents
loudly and rapidly heightened anger ratings and enhanced
digital vasoconstriction but not blood pressure or heart
rate; however, anger enhanced blood pressure during soft,
slow speech. Facial blood flow increased during anger expression,
irrespective of speech style, but decreased when neutral
material was read out. The findings suggest that an increase
in facial blood flow reduces peripheral vascular resistance
during anger expression, and that baroreflexes attenuate
increases in heart rate and blood pressure. Racial background
did not influence subjective reports or physiological responses,
possibly because the procedure did not draw strongly enough
on cultural taboos.