Suppressing Sympathetic Nervous System Activity Alters Coping Responses to Stress: Implications for Depression

Undergraduate: Hasan Mustafic

Faculty Advisor: Keely Muscatell
Department: Psychology & Neuroscience

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The research for this study explores the potential mechanism for altering cognitive appraisals during a stressful event. Lazarus and Folkman (1984) define cognitive appraisals as the process of interpreting an event and its different features, with respect to its impact on the individual. People generally have either a challenge or threat appraisal. A challenge appraisal entails the perception that an event is a challenge that can be overcome. A threat appraisal occurs when a person believes they do not have the resources to cope with an event. The goal of this study is to see the role physiology plays in appraisals, and if physiology can change the type of appraisal. The sympathetic nervous system was specifically examined because it plays a major role in the physiology associated with cognitive appraisals such as heart rate. The sympathetic nervous system was suppressed via the beta block Propranolol to test whether participants who received the drug would have higher scores on the challenge and threat measure. Participants were randomly assigned to either a placebo group or beta-blocker group, and both groups later completed the Trier Social Stress Test. Various questionnaires associated with performance on the TSST are given pre and post TSST. The study is still running participants, so data analysis has not been completed yet. The implications of the study will be discussed once the results are established. The results will be be discussed in the context of depression.