Xici Wan - Childhood Trauma, Autonomic Hypo-arousal, and Mood Instability: A Psychophysiological Pathway in Bipolar Disorder (Seminar 2/2)
A Big Data Group Seminar in conjunction with the Think Tank Seminar Series
Our guest speaker is Xici Wan from the University of Exeter. This is the second of two talks talking place on the day
| A Mood Disorders Centre seminar | |
|---|---|
| Date | 12 March 2026 |
| Time | 12:30 to 13:30 |
| Place | Sir Henry Wellcome Building for Mood Disorders Research (Hybrid) |
| Organizer | Mood Disorders Centre |
Event details
Abstract
Mood instability is a defining feature of bipolar disorder (BD). Building on psychophysiological frameworks which posit resting blood pressure as a marker for emotion regulation capacity, my research investigates the "Hypo-arousal Hypothesis" in BD.
Specifically, I used the UK Biobank (N ≈ 500,000) to examine whether adverse early-life experiences lead to chronic autonomic hypo-arousal (low blood pressure). My results indicate that this physiological state—functioning as a constraint on regulatory capacity—significantly predicts mood instability.
In this talk, I will present the dual-track analytical strategy (using SEM and GAM) which identified a non-linear "L-shaped" threshold, suggesting that trauma-induced hypotension may be a key biological pathway compromising mood stability in BD.
We ask everyone attending not to make any recordings or stills (photographs) of any part of the seminar and protect one another’s privacy.
Participation in the online seminar will be taken to indicate acceptance of these terms.
Zoom Meeting ID & Password
Meeting ID: 973 6384 4937
Password: 039795
Location:
Sir Henry Wellcome Building for Mood Disorders Research (Hybrid)