[Abstract Title]. - Society for Neuroscience

with anxious temperament in the BNST and amygdala/hippocampal region. Using hierarchical
linear regression techniques, we found that BNST 5-HTT BP significantly contributed to anxious
temperament. The contributions of 5-HTT BP to temperament were both unique to 5-HTT BP
and also overlapped with glucose metabolism. The BNST, a major component of the “extended
amygdala”, has been shown to play an important role in anxiety-like behavior in rodents (Walker
& Davis, 1997). The present results suggest the BNST is one site where 5-HT availability may
mediate the neural, behavioral, and endocrine responses associated with anxious temperament in
rhesus monkeys.
Disclosures: S.E. Shelton, None; A.S. Fox, None; J.A. Oler, None; T.R. Oakes, None; B.T.
Christian, None; R.J. Davidson, None; N.H. Kalin, None.
Poster
256. Anxiety Disorders: Human Biomarkers
Time: Sunday, November 16, 2008, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Program#/Poster#: 256.5/Z8
Topic: C.15.k. Anxiety disorders
Support: Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Research Funds
Title: Vagal tone and information processing in recently returned combat veterans
Authors: *J. GINSBERG 1,2 , M. BERRY 1 , D. A. POWELL 1,3,4 ;
1 Shirley L. Buchanan Neurosci. Lab., Dorn VA Med. Ctr., Columbia, SC; 2 Pharmacology,
Physiology, and Neurosci., 3 Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Sci., Univ. of South Carolina Sch.
of Med., Columbia, SC; 4 Psychology, Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Abstract: Reduced heart rate variability (HRV) has been reported in anxiety disorders in
humans, including combat-related PTSD. Reduction of HRV indicates loss of vagal tone
(defined as parasympathetic cardiac output from the vagus nerve that results in cardiac
deceleration) and increased sympathetic autonomic activity.
Growing evidence also suggests that deficits in attention and immediate memory (ATTN/IM) are
associated with PTSD in combat veterans. However, the unique contribution that reduced HRV
makes to ATTN/IM deficits in PTSD+ combat veterans has not been well-studied. We tested this
association by assessing the effect that improving heart rate variability coherence through
biofeedback training has on objective performance measures of ATTN/IM in recently-returned
PTSD+ combat veterans.
Five PTSD+ combat veterans aged 25 - 39 and 4 non-veteran (VA professional employees)
control subjects were enrolled in a pilot study. The controls received HRV coherence