Objective: 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).
Methods: 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.
Results: 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.
Conclusions: The combination of results strongly suggests that CFF and resting SBP are positively related.