Yussuf Ferkh 10841803

Blood pressure changes in relation to short-term Memory

Abstract An experiment was conducted in regards to the study of memory on blood pressure. Each of the 11 individuals involved had their systolic and diastolic blood pressure measured, as well as their heart rate, with a sphygmomanometer. They then underwent a certain short-term memory exercise, and the previous procedure was applied at each week interval. The results were recorded as averages and then compared at the end of each week. The results showed that there was a general increase in blood pressure after the memory exercise was applied. This was relevant for both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. It was also recorded that there was a steady decrease of post game blood pressure at the end of each week, compared to the previous week.

Introduction Memory in itself is a broad topic. Short-term memory can be defined as the ability to hold a small amount of information in an active circumstance for a short period of time. Short- term memory may be affected by many factors such as age, environment, background and so on. Another factor that may affect this is hypertension. At least subtle deficits in cognition have been documented in hypertensive humans across multiple neuropsychological assessment procedures (A. V. Terry Jr et al, 2002). The relationship between blood pressure and memory can be seen through the brains ability to process short term information and its effects on the heart rate. The best overall estimate of short-term memory is about four pieces or "chunks" of information (Cowan, N. (2001)). This will however change if short term memory is exercised. However exercising memory may cause cognitive responses such as stress as a result of trying to cope with the situation (Aldwin, Carolyn (2007)). A common sign of stress is a rapid or elevated heart beat.

Blood pressure may vary due to different factors such as age, sex, family history, current mental state, environment, medical history and so on. For instance, as an individual grows older, systolic pressure tends to rise and diastolic tends to fall (Pickering et al. 2005). A normal blood pressure would be considered as 90119 systolic and 6079 diastolic (Pickering et al. 2005). Blood pressure can be measured in three intervals using a sphygmomanometer. This measures the systolic (maximum) and diastolic (minimum) blood pressure as well as the heart rate. Blood pressure, in general, would be considered as the varying pressure of circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels. The electronic sphygmomanometer measures arterial blood pressure (Klabunde, Richard (2005)). This is the blood pressure measured in the arteries. Relating back to the previous point, blood pressure can be physically affected through certain factors such as exercise, acute or chronic stress, diet and so on. Physical and hereditary factors are what give scientists and doctors the great variations in the blood pressure of a subject during, or after an incident. Experimental aims and Hypothesis This Experiment aims to identify the trend in blood pressure in relation to short term memory using a number remembering memory game. It is predicted that there will be a general increase in arterial blood pressure after the memory game has been performed. Methods 11 individuals, comprising of 5 males and 6 females, underwent this experiment over a span of 4 weeks. Each individual underwent the same methods and results which were obtained at each week interval and compiled at the last week. 1. An electronic sphygmomanometer was used to measure the individuals initial blood pressure. This was performed 3 times in the first week and once in the following weeks. The results were recorded. 2. The individual then underwent a classical memory game, were the host calls out a random set of numbers in increasing numerical order and the individual must repeat the numbers as such. After the task was complete, the level at which the individual obtained was recorded. 3. The blood pressure was then measured again after the game and recorded at every week.

4. The same procedure was repeated for every other individual. 5. The results were compiled in the final week and compared, and averages were taken.

Results The results obtained allowed us to meet our experimental aim. A general pattern was found between blood pressure and memory. The trend involved the systolic and diastolic blood pressures being relatively higher after the game compared to before it

Average Systolic Blood Pressure at Every Week

132.00 130.00 128.00 126.00 Systolic BP 124.00 122.00 120.00 118.00 116.00 114.00 112.00 110.00 0 1 2 Week
Figure 1: Systolic BP vs Week

Before After

The above Figure represents a graph of the average systolic blood pressure, for both before and after the test, at every week. The graph shows a general trend, were the after is at a generally higher systolic BP then the before. There is however an exception in the final week were the after is recorded at 118 and the before at around 119.

Average Diastolic Blood Pressure at Every Week

78.00 77.00 76.00 75.00 Diastolic BP 74.00 73.00 72.00 71.00 70.00 69.00 68.00 0 1 2 Week
Figure 2: Diastolic BP Vs week

Before After

The Above graph shows the average diastolic blood pressure recorded at every week before and after the memory game. The graph shows that the after is generally higher than the Before. The only exception is at week 3 were both lines are shown to have the same results at approximately 76. However there is a general pattern were the results before the memory game are lower than that after the memory game.

Average Heart Rate per Week

120.00 100.00

80.00 Heart Rate

60.00

Before After

40.00

20.00

0.00 0 1 2 Week
Figure 3: HR Vs Week

The above figure shows the average heart rate recorded at the 4 weeks of experimentation. the trends in both before and after are relatively similar. In weeks 1, 3 and 4, the lines somewhat meet, indicating similar results. However in week 2 the HR is greater before the test then after.

Table 1 the average after the game was run

TRIAL AVERAGE Week 1 2 3 4 SYS 122.36 122.73 129.64 117.82 DIA 77.14 77.00 75.82 73.91 HR 80.41 82.09 90.82 82.18 LVL 5.36 6.61 6.06 6.70

The above Table shows the average systolic, diastolic blood pressures and the heart rate of all the individuals. The table also shows the average level reached by all the contestants while playing the game. There is a general increase in the level reached by the contestants as the weeks passed.

This indicates that the individuals involved performed better as the experiment progressed. There is also a common decrease in the systolic and diastolic blood pressures. However this was not observed in the heart rate.

Discussion

The results in this experiment varied greatly. The general trend however was relative to what was hypothesized. The results from both figure 1 and figure 2 showed that both diastolic and systolic blood pressures were elevated after the memory game was performed. There are many reasons as to why this will occur. One reason may be stress. Each individual, as they perform the memory game, experience a mental challenge. This in effect causes eustress. This is a positive form of stress that enhances function (physical or mental, such as through strength training or challenging work) (Selye (1975)). Eustress causes an increase in vigilance in regards to what is challenging the individual. However Eustress has the same effect as distress on the body. A common effect of stress on the body is an increased blood pressure. Another reason may be due to the effects of the amygdala. The amygdalae are small groups of neurons found in the limbic system that are involved in memory processing and formation (Zilles K (2005)). The amygdaloid complex is reciprocally connected to many structures of the brain, one of which being the neurons of the central sub nucleus. These neurons respond to both visual and auditory signals, and through there discharge, result in changes to blood pressure, heart rate and motor activity (Schulz, G.,(1986)). The experiment that took place involved the host pronouncing numbers to the subject, in effect causing auditory signals to be processed to the brain. Another point may be the angiotensin- rennin system (ARS). The main purpose of the ARS is to regulate both blood pressure and water balance (Walter F., PhD. Boron (2003)). Angiotensin I, II and III are all involved in this process. Angiotensin IV is involved in memory facilitation ((Albiston et al., 2003). It is also involved in blood flow. It, like angiotensin II and III, is a vasoconstrictor, which constrict walls of blood vessels, increasing blood pressure (Coleman et al., 1998). This can be seen in the experiment, were the act of facilitating memory may cause the increased production of angiotensin IV, causing an increase in blood pressure. Another fact,

relating directly to the ARS is that the concentration of angiotensin II is very high in the hippocampus (von Bohlen und Halbach andAlbrecht, (1998)). The hippocampus is one of the subcortical structures involved in the consolidation and retrieval of different types of memories.

Another more neurological explanation may be the blood pressure regulation by C1 neurons in the rostal ventrolateral medulla (RVM). C1 neurons increase both vasomotor and blood pressure (Abbot et al. 2009a; Dampney et al. 1985; Reis et al. 1988). Abbot et al, (2009b) held a study where he used laser light pulses to photo-stimulate a C1 region. The results recorded an increase in both blood pressure and splanchnic sympathetic nerve activity. There are two types of C1 neurons, those in the bulbospinal area and those in the hypothalamus (RVM). The C1 neuron in itself is very specific. As blood pressure increases the C1 neurons will then tend to decline so as to control blood pressure. Further research has shown that C1 cells can be activated through secondary reflexes or stress (G Guyenet 1999). Therefore the eustress that arose during the game may have resulted in the projection of the C1 neuron, resulting in an increase in blood pressure.

The results showed a general increase in Blood pressure after the game was played. However, in week 4 the average systolic pressure was seen higher before the test (see figure 1). There can be multiple reasons to this. The most possible reason may be due to an error in recording, such as an individual not placing the electronic sphygmomanometer properly on his/her hand. Another reason may be due to an individual suffering from distress previous to the encounter. This may have caused an increase in blood pressure initially. In figure 1 and 2 the diastolic and systolic blood pressure recorded after the test, had a general decrease over the 4 weeks. This may be due to the level of expectation set by each individual. In the case of uncertainty, expectation is what is most likely to happen (Lazarus, Richard 1991). Each individual was given each the same test structure with different numerals over the four weeks. The same test structure ensures that the expectation of each individual is met. This will lower the level of stress (Lazarus, 1991) being exerted and in effect gradually lowering the blood pressure.

Table 1 shows an increase in the average level reached by the contestants over the four weeks. If both figures 1 and 2 as well as table 1 were to be compared, then there would be a decrease in blood pressure compared to an increase in level over the four weeks of testing. This may be due to preparation. As defined by the oxford dictionary, the common action or process of preparing or being prepared, preparation allows an individual to become more ready, whether it be mentally or physically. Each individual in this experiment underwent the same test over 4 weeks, which allowed the individuals to be more mentally ready as the weeks passed. This in effect will lower stress and blood pressure. Stress varies in intensity and duration depending on the circumstances of a situation (Glavas, 2006). So therefore as the weeks passed the subjects were able to deal with the situation more effectively, as they became more familiar with the circumstances and in result displayed less effort and greater results.

Figure 3 showed the heart rate as being consistent both before and after the test with an exception to week 2. The main focus of the experiment was the effects of short-term memory on blood pressure. The heart rate does not correlate with blood pressure, as it only measures the number of times the heart pumps blood per minute (American Heart association (2011)). Blood pressure measures the force of the blood against the arteries. A substantial increase in heart rate does not necessarily mean a substantial increase in blood pressure, and vice versa (American Heart association (2011)). Heart rate will tend to increase during activity and then gradually decrease when the activity is finished (American Heart association (2011)). The memory game may not have provided enough intensity to keep the heart rate at an elevated level after it was performed. This may have caused the consistent effect as seen in figure 3. The experiment posed some limitations. For instance each individual had a different family history, with different backgrounds and so on. This may have affected the general pattern of results. Human error played a detrimental part in the main experiment leading to problems such as the imbalance in results displayed in figure 1. Another factor was the laboratory condition. The increased noise in the laboratory may have affected the results. It would have been an improvement to perform the experiment in a quiet room to obtain optimum results with little distraction or noise pollution. A way the experiment could be improved would be through the conduction of different memory games every week. This, in turn, will decrease the level of

expectation and preparation the individuals may have towards the test and in effect giving more distinct and accurate results. Many of the articles described and cited in this report vary over the years, originating from very old origins and are now recently being shed light on. Many of the articles are still young and future improvements and research is still being awaited. The research this experiment deals with will branch out to many different cases and research opportunities. Enhancements in understanding stress, blood pressure, hypertension, neurological systems, such as C1 neurons and the neurons of the amygdale and so on. One particular limitation was the area of eustress. Articles in this area of research were hard to come by. It is preferable if scientists will shed more light on this form of positive stress, so that the general population will be able to further enhance their knowledge on these bodily effects. Limitations were also experienced when dwelling into the angiotensin- Renin System. The later stages of the angiotensin (angiotensin IV and V and so on) have little written about them and the research was very refined.

In conclusion the results obtained met the hypothesis that was stated at the beginning of the experiment, that there will be a general increase in the average arterial blood pressure after the memory game has been performed. This was seen for both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, which increased after the game. Other findings obtained by the experiment were that the average blood pressures recorded decreased at the end of each week as the average game level increased.

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