Critical flicker fusion frequency: Relation to resting systolic blood pressure

• Published in: Optometry and vision science Vol. 81; no. 5; pp. 373 - 376
• Main Authors: GUTHERIE, Audrey H, HAMMOND, Billy R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 01.05.2004
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Pressure - physiology; Blood Pressure Determination; Female; Flicker Fusion - physiology; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Ophthalmology; Psychophysics; Sphygmomanometers; Critical fusion frequency; Sensitivity; critical flicker fusion frequency; diastolic blood pressure; Arterial pressure; Blood pressure; Ophthalmology; Psychophysics; Flicker; flicker sensitivity; systolic blood pressure
• ISSN: 1040-5488; 1538-9235
• DOI: 10.1097/01.opx.0000135084.16018.ac

Past studies have shown that a number of factors, both acute and chronic, influence individual differences in critical flicker fusion frequency (CFF). In this study, we assessed whether CFF co-varied with resting systolic blood pressure (SBP). SBP and CFF were assessed in one session in 221 subjects (mean age, 19.6 +/- 2.5 years), and SBP and CFF were assessed over 10 sessions in 12 subjects. CFF values were determined psychophysically using a 570 nm circular 1 degrees test field centrally fixated. Blood pressure was determined with an automated sphygmomanometer. There was a significant (p < 0.0002) positive relation between CFF and SBP for the larger sample (n = 221). Significant within-subject relations were found for 6 of the 12 subjects tested repeatedly. The combination of results strongly suggests that CFF and resting SBP are positively related.