Daniel Quintana

Publications (12) View all

• Article: Heart rate variability predicts alcohol craving in alcohol dependent outpatients: Further evidence for HRV as a psychophysiological marker of self-regulation.

  Daniel S Quintana, Adam J Guastella, Iain S McGregor, Ian B Hickie, Andrew H Kemp
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Past research has highlighted an important role of the autonomic nervous system in alcohol dependence and capacity for self-regulation. While previous studies have examined alcohol dependent inpatients, it remains unclear whether resting-state HRV, a potential psychophysiological marker of ones capacity for self-regulation, is related to craving in patients who currently consume alcohol. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine whether HRV predicts alcohol craving in dependent individuals in the community. METHODS: Resting-state HRV and alcohol craving, as indexed by the obsessive compulsive drinking scale, were assessed in 26 alcohol dependent outpatients. RESULTS: Results supported hypotheses indicating that HRV accounts for an additional 12.1% of the variance in craving after controlling for age, anxiety and levels of alcohol consumption. Here we show for the first time that resting-state HRV predicts craving in alcohol dependent outpatients. CONCLUSION: Results provide important new evidence for a role of the autonomic nervous system in the maintenance of dependence disorders.
  Drug and alcohol dependence 04/2013; · 3.60 Impact Factor
• Article: A role for autonomic cardiac control in the effects of oxytocin on social behavior and psychiatric illness.

  Daniel S Quintana, Andrew H Kemp, Gail A Alvares, Adam J Guastella
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: Cumulative evidence over the last decade indicates that intranasally administered oxytocin (OT) has a major impact on social behavior and cognition. In parallel, researchers have also highlighted the effects of OT on cardiovascular (CV) and autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulation. Taken at face value, these two streams of research appear largely unrelated. However, another line of evidence highlights a key role for autonomic cardiac control in social behavior and cognition. In this review, we suggest that autonomic cardiac control may moderate the relationship between OT and social behavior. We also highlight the importance of autonomic cardiac control in psychiatric disorders of social dysfunction and suggest that heart rate variability (HRV)-an index of autonomic cardiac control-may play a key role in patient response in treatment trials of OT.
  Frontiers in Neuroscience 01/2013; 7:48.
• Article: Heart rate variability is associated with emotion recognition: Direct evidence for a relationship between the autonomic nervous system and social cognition.

  Daniel S Quintana, Adam J Guastella, Tim Outhred, Ian B Hickie, Andrew H Kemp
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: It is well established that heart rate variability (HRV) plays an important role in social communication. Polyvagal theory suggests that HRV may provide a sensitive marker of one's ability to respond and recognize social cues. The aim of the present study was to directly test this hypothesis. Resting-state HRV was collected and performance on the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test was assessed in 65 volunteers. HRV was positively associated with performance on this emotion recognition task confirming our hypothesis and these findings were retained after controlling for a variety of confounding variables known to influence HRV - sex, BMI, smoking habits, physical activity levels, depression, anxiety, and stress. Our data suggests that increased HRV may provide a novel marker of one's ability to recognize emotions in humans. Implications for understanding the biological basis of emotion recognition, and social impairment in humans are discussed.
  International journal of psychophysiology: official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology 08/2012; · 3.05 Impact Factor
• Article: A Meta-Analysis on the Impact of Alcohol Dependence on Short-Term Resting-State Heart Rate Variability: Implications for Cardiovascular Risk.

  Daniel S Quintana, Iain S McGregor, Adam J Guastella, Gin S Malhi, Andrew H Kemp
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Alcohol dependence is associated with an increased likelihood of cardiac events. Reductions in heart rate variability (HRV) may be one mechanism linking dependence with these events. HRV may also be related to poor social functioning and the lack of impulse control commonly observed in alcohol-dependent individuals. However, prior studies on the impact of alcohol dependence on HRV have reported contradictory findings highlighting the need for a meta-analysis. METHODS: Studies comparing short-term HRV in alcohol-dependent populations and healthy controls who were nondependent were considered for meta-analysis. Only studies reporting findings from participants without cardiovascular disease were included in the analysis. RESULTS: Meta-analyses were based on 6 articles that fulfilled inclusion criteria, comprising a total of 177 alcohol-dependent participants and 216 nondependent participants. Alcohol-dependent participants displayed reduced HRV (Hedges' g = -0.6, p > 0.001) in comparison with nondependent participants. No differences were observed between the summary effect sizes obtained from different HRV domains (Q = 1.19, p = 0.55). CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol dependence is associated with reduced HRV, an effect associated with a medium effect size. Findings highlight the importance of monitoring alcohol-dependent patients for cardiac disease and emphasize the need for cardiovascular risk reduction strategies in these patients.
  Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research 07/2012; · 3.34 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: Andrew Kemp

  Article: On the validity of using the Polar RS800 heart rate monitor for heart rate variability research.

  Daniel S Quintana, James A J Heathers, Andrew H Kemp
  Arbeitsphysiologie 07/2012; · 2.15 Impact Factor