BACKGROUND Trauma and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have repeatedly been linked to impaired cardiovascular functioning. Poor fear extinction is a well-established biomarker of PTSD that may provide insight into mechanisms underlying cardiovascular risk. The current study probed the cardiovascular response to extinction in a sample of trauma-exposed individuals. METHODS Participants were 51 trauma-exposed women who underwent a fear conditioning paradigm. Heart rate (HR) during extinction was examined in response to a conditioned stimulus that was previously paired with an aversive unconditioned stimulus (CS+) and one that was never paired (CS-). Heart rate variability (HRV) was calculated at baseline and during the extinction session. RESULTS Consistent with fear bradycardia, initial HR deceleration (.5-2s) after CS + onset occurred during early extinction and appeared to extinguish over time. Higher baseline HRV was significantly associated with greater fear bradycardia during early extinction. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to demonstrate a pattern of fear bradycardia in early extinction, which was associated with higher HRV levels and decreased over the course of the extinction phase. These results suggest that increased fear bradycardia may be indicative of greater vagal control (i.e., HRV), both of which are psychophysiological biomarkers that may influence cardiovascular and autonomic disease risk in trauma-exposed individuals.

中文翻译：

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在暴露于创伤的样本中检查心血管对恐惧消退的反应。

背景技术创伤和创伤后应激障碍 (PTSD) 的症状反复与心血管功能受损有关。恐惧消退是 PTSD 的一个公认的生物标志物，可以提供对心血管风险潜在机制的深入了解。目前的研究探讨了创伤暴露个体样本中心血管对灭绝的反应。方法 参与者是 51 名经历过恐惧条件反射范式的创伤暴露女性。检查消退期间的心率 (HR)，以响应先前与厌恶的非条件刺激 (CS+) 和从未配对的条件刺激 (CS-) 配对的条件刺激。在基线和消退期间计算心率变异性 (HRV)。结果与恐惧性心动过缓一致，初始 HR 减速 (. 5-2s) 后 CS + 发作发生在早期消退期间，并且似乎随着时间的推移而熄灭。较高的基线 HRV 与早期消退期间更大的恐惧性心动过缓显着相关。结论 这是第一项证明早期消退期恐惧性心动过缓模式的研究，该模式与较高的 HRV 水平相关，并在消退期过程中降低。这些结果表明，恐惧性心动过缓增加可能表明迷走神经控制（即 HRV）更强，这两者都是可能影响创伤暴露个体心血管和自主神经疾病风险的心理生理生物标志物。结论 这是第一项证明早期消退期恐惧性心动过缓模式的研究，该模式与较高的 HRV 水平相关，并在消退期过程中降低。这些结果表明，恐惧性心动过缓增加可能表明迷走神经控制（即 HRV）更强，这两者都是可能影响创伤暴露个体心血管和自主神经疾病风险的心理生理生物标志物。结论 这是第一项证明早期消退期恐惧性心动过缓模式的研究，该模式与较高的 HRV 水平相关，并在消退期过程中降低。这些结果表明，恐惧性心动过缓增加可能表明迷走神经控制（即 HRV）更强，这两者都是可能影响创伤暴露个体心血管和自主神经疾病风险的心理生理生物标志物。