A relevant reduction of blood pressure (BP) in placebo-treated control groups is a phenomenon often observed in pharmacological studies of hypertension. This effect was shown to differ from spontaneous remission tendencies and regression to the mean effect by comparing placebo groups with untreated controls. However, it is not fully understood whether these effects are due to a global reaction of the autonomous nervous system (affecting the overall organ systems of the body) or a specific reaction (affecting the cardiovascular system only). We therefore aim to differentiate specific effects (reduction of blood pressure) from global effects (e.g. changes in electrodermal and gastric activity).