Lateralized Induction of Cardiovascular Responses: Exploring Asymmetric Autonomic Regulation

dc.contributor.authorMcginley, Jared Josephen
dc.contributor.committeechairFriedman, Bruce H.en
dc.contributor.committeememberHarrison, David W.en
dc.contributor.committeememberDeater-Deckard, Kirbyen
dc.contributor.departmentPsychologyen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:37:18Zen
dc.date.adate2012-06-13en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:37:18Zen
dc.date.issued2012-05-02en
dc.date.rdate2012-12-11en
dc.date.sdate2012-05-16en
dc.description.abstractThere is clear evidence that the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is lateralized at both the peripheral as well as the central levels of the nervous system. Both the vagus and the sympathetic ganglia asymmetrically innervate the sino-atrial node and the myocardium of the heart. This lateralization has also been observed in afferent as well as efferent projections to nuclei in the brainstem, hypothalamus, and amygdala. Where laterality has not been as clear is in regions of the frontal lobe dedicated to the regulation of autonomic nervous system responses. This study addressed that issue via the implementation of lateralized autonomic response-evoking tasks. With the use of cardiovascular and electrodermal measures, the present study indexed autonomic responses to lateralized stimuli. This study also explored the role of lateralization within sex as well as in relation to reported gender identity. The findings lend support to the right hemisphere as serving a dominant role in regulating sympathetic nervous system activity, while lending less conclusive support for lateralization of parasympathetic nervous system regulation. Men demonstrated greater lateralization for sympathetic nervous system responses across several different metrics of autonomic indices. The exploration of gender variables in relation to lateralization of autonomic responses was generally not supported.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.identifier.otheretd-05162012-122627en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-05162012-122627/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/32888en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartMcGinley_JJ_T_2012.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectCardiovascular Responsesen
dc.subjectAutonomic Regulationen
dc.subjectLateralityen
dc.subjectGenderen
dc.titleLateralized Induction of Cardiovascular Responses: Exploring Asymmetric Autonomic Regulationen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplinePsychologyen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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