The relationship between thermoregulatory and haemodynamic responses of the skin to relaxation and stress

Abstract

The present study investigated the effects of stress and relaxation on peripheral blood volume. Venous and arterial blood volume, and temperature of the fingertips were measured by photoplethysmograph and thermistor, respectively. The mean of the peak cross correlation between the blood volume and the temperature of the fingertips of the nine cases studied was 0.9236/spl plusmn/0.0408. The finger temperature closely followed that of the finger blood volume but at a slower rate. The blood volume and the temperature of the fingertip increased during eyes closed relaxation, but decreased during stressful state. Changes in venous blood volume (temperature), corresponded to changes in the amplitude of the arterial blood volume. Thus, during relaxation the finger arterioles were vasodilated, and during stress they were vasoconstricted.