Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Conditioned bradycardia in the sea lion Zalophus californianus

Nature volume 256, pages 37–38 (1975)Cite this article

Abstract

HEART rate is usually reduced when aquatic mammals dive. The degree of this reduction, known as bradycardia, is remarkable1–3, and immersion in water has been regarded as important in its initiation3,4. The heart of the phocid seal beats slower in forced or restrained dives than during trained or voluntary dives5,6, and bradycardia occurs during respiratory pauses in air as well as in water7–9. Central nervous system (CNS) control of bradycardia has been suggested5,6,8,9. We have investigated whether bradycardia can be conditioned in the California sea lion Zalophus californianus since cardiovascular responses can be conditioned in man and many other animals10.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Scholander, P. F., Hvalrad. Skr., 22, 1 (1940).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Irving, L., Physiol. Rev., 19, 112 (1939).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Elsner, R., Franklin, D., Van Citters, R., and Kenney, D., Science, 153, 941 (1966).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Anderson, H. T., Physiol. Rev., 46, 212 (1966).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Elsner, R., Hvalrad. Skr., 48, 24 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Harrison, R. J., Ridgway, S. H., and Joyce, P. L., Nature, 238, 280 (1971).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Hamlin, R., Ridgway, S., and Gilmartin, W., Am. J. Vet. Res., 33, 867 (1972).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Lin, Y., Matsuura, D., and Whittow, G., Am. J. Physiol., 22, 260 (1972).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Jones, D., Fisher, H., McTaggart, S., and West, N., Can. J. Zool., 51, 671 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Bykov, K. M., The Cerebral Cortex and the Internal Organs (Trans. and edit. by Gantt, W. H.) (Chemical Publishing, New York, 1957).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Ridgway, S. H., thesis, Cambridge University (1973).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biomedical Division, Biosystems Research Department, Naval Undersea Center, San Diego, California, 92132

    SAM H. RIDGWAY, DONALD A. CARDER & WILLIAM CLARK

Authors
  1. SAM H. RIDGWAY
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. DONALD A. CARDER
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. WILLIAM CLARK
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

RIDGWAY, S., CARDER, D. & CLARK, W. Conditioned bradycardia in the sea lion Zalophus californianus. Nature 256, 37–38 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/256037a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/256037a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing