Sustained mental stress alters human jejunal motor activity.

The effect of prolonged mental stress on upper small bowel motility was studied in 11 healthy, medical students using a pressure-sensitive radio-pill. During eight hours of continuous observation, subjects were stressed for four hours with a modified dichotomous listening test. During the first two hours of stress, inhibition of fasting motor complexes occurred and this effect was marked in the seven subjects who showed an appreciable cardiovascular response to stress.