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Behav Med. 2005 Winter;30(4):149-58.
Essential hypotension is accompanied by deficits in attention and working
memory.
Duschek S, Matthias E, Schandry R.
Author information

University of Munich, Germany. duschek@psy.uni-muenchen.de

Abstract

In the present study, the authors investigated the relationship between low blood
pressure (BP) and attentional performance through the application of a
multidimensional diagnostic approach. The authors compared 40 subjects with
essential hypotension (mean systolic BP = 97.6 mmHg) with 40 normotensive
controls (mean systolic BP = 124.1 mmHg) using 6 computer-based tasks
measuring tonic and phasic alertness; selective, divided, and sustained
attention; and working memory. To control for possible confounders, the authors
used a test battery examining motor performance and a mood questionnaire. BP
was monitored continuously during the entire experiment. Hypotensives showed
prolonged execution times in each of the attentional tasks (p < .001). Moderately
decreased accuracy was found in the tests assessing sustained attention (p = .
059) and working memory (p = .012). Moreover hypotensives showed smaller
elevations in BP during the execution of the cognitive tasks. This study is the first
to demonstrate the relationship between BP and cognitive performance while
controlling for motor function and mood.