Citation

Demaree HA, Harrison DW. Neuropsychologia 1997; 35(10): 1405-1411.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, College of Arts and Science, Blacksburg 24061-0436, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9347487

Abstract

This experiment tested two hypotheses linking right cerebral arousal to hostility and physiological arousal. A replication of previous research supporting heightened physiological (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate) reactivity among high-hostility subjects was partially successful. Hemispheric lateralization of cerebral activity in response to stress was also measured. Low- and high-hostility subjects were identified using the Cook-Medley Hostility Scale (CMHS). Physiological measures (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate) were recorded and dichotic listening procedures were administered before and after administration of the cold-pressor paradigm. The primary finding of this research was greater right cerebral activation to stress among high-hostility subjects, as indicated by their enhanced ability to identify syllables presented to the left ear. Data further supported previous findings of heightened physiological reactivity to stress among high-hostility subjects and suggest a positive relationship between right cerebral activity and cardiovascular arousal.

Language: en