Abstract
Background: High-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV) is a measure of parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) output that has been associated with enhanced self-regulation. Low resting levels of HF-HRV are associated with nicotine dependence and blunted stress-related changes in HF-HRV are associated with decreased ability to resist smoking. Meditation has been shown to increase HF-HRV. However, it is unknown whether tonic levels of HF-HRV or acute changes in HF-HRV during meditation predict treatment responses in addictive behaviors such as smoking cessation. Purpose: To investigate the relationship between HF-HRV and subsequent smoking outcomes. Methods: HF-HRV during resting baseline and during mindfulness meditation was measured within two weeks of completing a 4-week smoking cessation intervention in a sample of 31 community participants. Self-report measures of smoking were obtained at a follow up 17-weeks after the initiation of treatment. Results: Regression analyses indicated that individuals exhibiting acute increases in HF-HRV from resting baseline to meditation smoked fewer cigarettes at follow-up than those who exhibited acute decreases in HF-HRV (b = −4.89, p = 0.008). Conclusion: Acute changes in HF-HRV in response to meditation may be a useful tool to predict smoking cessation treatment response.
Highlights
High-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV) is a measure of parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) output that has been associated with enhanced self-regulation
Individuals with substance use disorders who received mindfulness training showed increased parasympathetic output during stress compared to those who received cognitive behavioral therapy (Brewer et al, 2009). These results suggest that the increased HF-HRV that has been observed during meditation may reflect increased self-regulation capacity or replenishment of depleted self-control resources, which may in turn contribute to the positive effects of mindfulness-based interventions in the treatment of substance-use disorders
Consistent with earlier research that higher baseline HF-HRV and HF-HRV flexibility may both be markers of inhibitory behavioral control, we examined four hypotheses: (1) higher baseline levels of HF-HRV will be associated with fewer cigarettes smoked at 17-week follow-up; (2) increases in HF-HRV compared to decreases from resting baseline to meditation will be associated with fewer cigarettes smoked at 17-week follow-up (3) HF-HRV during meditation will be associated with fewer cigarettes smoked at 17-week follow-up; (4) larger increases in HF-HRV from resting baseline to meditation condition will be associated with number of cigarettes smoked at 17-week follow-up
Summary
High-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV) is a measure of parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) output that has been associated with enhanced self-regulation. It is unknown whether tonic levels of HF-HRV or acute changes in HF-HRV during meditation predict treatment responses in addictive behaviors such as smoking cessation. Methods: HF-HRV during resting baseline and during mindfulness meditation was measured within two weeks of completing a 4-week smoking cessation intervention in a sample of 31 community participants. Self-report measures of smoking were obtained at a follow up 17-weeks after the initiation of treatment. Results: Regression analyses indicated that individuals exhibiting acute increases in HF-HRV from resting baseline to meditation smoked fewer cigarettes at follow-up than those who exhibited acute decreases in HF-HRV (b = −4.89, p = 0.008). Conclusion: Acute changes in HF-HRV in response to meditation may be a useful tool to predict smoking cessation treatment response
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