Autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity is a core and central component of emotion and motivated action. The myriad social and cognitive challenges faced by humans require flexible modulation of ANS activity for different contexts. In this study, simultaneous activity of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system was measured using respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and pre-ejection period (PEP), respectively. Samples combined four previous studies (N = 325, 63% female, aged 15–55) in which RSA and PEP were collected continuously during a resting baseline and an acute stressor, the Trier Social Stress Task. The concurrent relation between RSA and PEP responses was modelled in order to determine the extent to which SNS and PNS activity is correlated across the task within and between participants, and whether this correlation was moderated by age, race, sex, or baseline RSA and PEP. Overall, RSA and PEP were reciprocally coupled. However, recovery from a stressor was characterized by coactivation. Individuals also vary in the extent to which their SNS and PNS are reciprocally coupled; women, younger adults, and individuals with higher baseline RSA showed more reciprocal coupling than men, older adults, and those with lower baseline RSA, respectively, reflecting greater coordination of physiological responding in the former groups.

自主神经系统 (ANS) 活动是情绪和动机行为的核心和核心组成部分。人类面临的无数社会和认知挑战需要针对不同环境灵活调节 ANS 活动。在这项研究中，分别使用呼吸性窦性心律失常 (RSA) 和射血前期 (PEP) 测量副交感神经和交感神经系统的同时活动。样本结合了之前的四项研究（N = 325，63% 女性，15-55 岁），其中 RSA 和 PEP 在休息基线和急性压力源期间连续收集，即特里尔社会压力任务。对 RSA 和 PEP 响应之间的并发关系进行建模，以确定 SNS 和 PNS 活动在参与者内部和参与者之间跨任务相关的程度，以及这种相关性是否受到年龄、种族、性别或基线 RSA 和 PEP 的影响。总体而言，RSA 和 PEP 是相互耦合的。然而，从压力源中恢复的特点是共激活。个体的 SNS 和 PNS 相互耦合的程度也有所不同；女性、年轻人和基线 RSA 较高的个体分别比男性、老年人和基线 RSA 较低的个体表现出更多的相互耦合，这反映了前几组的生理反应协调性更强。