Sluggish vagal brake reactivity to physical exercise challenge in children with selective mutism

Abstract

Cardiovascular response patterns to laboratory-based social and physical exercise challenges were evaluated in 69 children and adolescents, 20 with selective mutism (SM), to identify possible neurophysiological mechanisms that may mediate the behavioral features of SM. Results suggest that SM is associated with a dampened response of the vagal brake to physical exercise that is manifested as reduced reactivity in heart rate and respiration. Polyvagal theory proposes that the regulation of the vagal brake is a neurophysiological component of an integrated social engagement system that includes the neural regulation of the laryngeal and pharyngeal muscles. Within this theoretical framework, sluggish vagal brake reactivity may parallel an inability to recruit efficiently the structures involved in speech. Thus, the findings suggest that dampened autonomic reactivity during mobilization behaviors may be a biomarker of SM that can be assessed independent of the social stimuli that elicit mutism.

The Effect of Exertion on Heart Rate and Rating of Perceived Exertion in Acutely Concussed Individuals

“…Our results, however, indicate that recently concussed individuals lack control over parasympathetic withdrawal of influence on cardiac rhythm, resulting in a dampened sympathetic response on initiation of exercise. This dampened autonomic response to physical activity has been described in studies of autonomic dysregulation in other clinical populations [16]. …”

Autonomic nervous system activity of preschool-age children who stutter

“…This inability to efficiently remove the vagal brake during challenge has been observed in children, diagnosed with selective mutism, who have difficulty initiating speech. Research characterizes children with selective mutism as having a sluggish vagal brake (Heilman et al, 2012). For CWS, the lack of RSA decrease observed may be a feature consistent with having a sluggish vagal brake, which may in turn influence CWS's ability to effectively and efficiently engage during social-communication situations, a possibility that must await further empirical study.…”

“…For example, Bar-Haim et al (2004) found that 7-year-old children who displayed a greater decrease of RSA in response to emotionally and cognitively challenging narrative tasks produced more coherent and adaptive narratives. In addition, decreases of 3- and 4-year-old children's RSA have been reported in response to fear-inducing film stimuli (Gilissen et al, 2007), physical challenge (Heilman et al, 2008), and sustained attention tasks (Suess et al, 1994; Weber et al, 1994). Dale, O'Hara, Keen, and Porges (2011) reported that infants who display less suppression of RSA exhibit more high-level withdrawal responses, including verbal and physical protests, consistent with the relation hypothesized by Porges et al (1996) between physiological regulation of the vagal brake and positive social behavior (see Porges et al, 1996).…”

“…Furthermore, significant decreases of RSA (i.e., greater RSA suppression) in children has been reported in response to cognitive, attentional, physical, behavioral, emotional, and social challenges (Bar-Haim, Fox, VanMeenen, & Marshall, 2004; Gilissen, Koolstra, Ijzendoom, Bakermans-Kraneenburg, & van der Veer, 2007; Gentzler, Santucci, Kovacs, & Fox, 2009; Heilman et al, 2008; Suess, Porges, Plude, 1994; Weber, ver der Molen, & Molenaar, 1994). For example, Bar-Haim et al (2004) found that 7-year-old children who displayed a greater decrease of RSA in response to emotionally and cognitively challenging narrative tasks produced more coherent and adaptive narratives.…”

Respiratory sinus arrhythmia and auditory processing in autism: Modifiable deficits of an integrated social engagement system?

“…Suppression of RSA during attention demanding tasks has frequently been used as a psychophysiological index of mental effort and sustained attention (e.g., Vicente, Thornton, & Moray, 1987; Porges, 1992). Several studies have reported dampened RSA reactivity to social and cognitive challenges in children with atypical development including social phobia (Schmitz, Kramer, Tuschen-Caffier, Heinrichs, & Blechert, 2011), fragile X syndrome (Heilman, Harden, Zageris, Berry-Kravis, & Porges, 2011), selective mutism (Heilman et al, 2012), sleep problems (El-Sheikh & Buckhalt, 2004), poor maternal-child relationships (Calkins, Graziano, Berdan, Keane, & Degnan, 2008) , increased risk for obesity (Graziano, Calkins, Keane, & O’Brien, 2011), and lower peer status (Graziano, Keane, & Calkins, 2007). …”