Changes in Heart Rate During Rollercoaster Rides

From infancy through adulthood, our blood pressure stays at a relatively constant mean arterial pressure. Changes in blood pressure result in compensatory changes in heart rate to bring blood pressure back to normal, a phenomenon known as the “baroreceptor reflex response.” The baroreceptor reflex works continuously to maintain our blood pressure throughout our day, from the time we jump out of bed in the morning to the quiet time at our work desks, to vigorous exercise, and then back to bed at night. Our first-year biomedical engineering students use specially designed equipment to test their baroreceptor reflex personally on exhilarating amusement rides during a field trip to Six Flags each fall. This talk will share student data from those field trips.