10027/10325
Keri J. Heilman
Keri J.
Heilman
Sucheta D. Connolly
Sucheta D.
Connolly
Wendy O. Padilla
Wendy O.
Padilla
Marika I. Wrzosek
Marika I.
Wrzosek
Patricia A. Graczyk
Patricia A.
Graczyk
Stephen W. Porges
Stephen W.
Porges
Sluggish vagal brake reactivity to physical exercise challenge in children with selective mutism
University of Illinois at Chicago
2013
untagged
2013-12-06 00:00:00
Journal contribution
https://indigo.uic.edu/articles/journal_contribution/Sluggish_vagal_brake_reactivity_to_physical_exercise_challenge_in_children_with_selective_mutism/10757708
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.