Increase In Heart Rate Variability Research Articles

General anesthesia activates a central anxiolytic center in the BNST

Low doses of general anesthetics like ketamine and dexmedetomidine have anxiolytic properties independent of their sedative effects, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We discovered a population of GABAergic neurons in the oval division of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis that are activated by multiple anesthetics and the anxiolytic drug diazepam (ovBNSTGA). The majority of ovBNSTGA neurons express neurotensin receptor 1 (Ntsr1) and form circuits with brain regions known to regulate anxiety and stress responses. Optogenetic activation of ovBNSTGA or ovBNSTNtsr1 neurons significantly attenuated anxiety-like behaviors in both naive animals and mice with inflammatory pain, while inhibition of these cells elevated anxiety. Activation of these neurons decreased heart rate and increased heart rate variability, suggesting that they reduce anxiety by modulating autonomic responses. Our study identifies ovBNSTGA/ovBNSTNtsr1 neurons as a common neural substrate mediating the anxiolytic effect of low-dose anesthetics and a potential therapeutic target for treating anxiety-related disorders.

Adaptive responses of heart rate regulation during functional tests with breath holding

BACKGROUND: Synchronization of biorhythms in living organisms is of particular interest to researchers from the standpoint of adaptation theory. AIM: To study the characteristics of the response of regulatory influences on heart rhythm during tests with voluntary breath holding during inhalation and exhalation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study sample included 21 randomly selected students (9 males, 12 females) aged 20.64±1.14 years with body weight 67.19±12.98 kg, height 172.29±7.63 cm. All subjects were divided into three groups (I, II, III) according to the classification by N.I. Shlyk (2009), which is based on the predominance of central or autonomic circuits of heart rhythm regulation. A fivefold sequential ECG recording was conducted using the hardware-software complex “Varicard 3.0” with the subject seated after a five-minute rest: 1 — baseline state; 2 — voluntary breath holding during inhalation; 3 — resting state; 4 — voluntary breath holding during exhalation; 5 — resting state. Using the “Varicard 3.0” system, a mathematical analysis of heart rhythm was performed, taking into account statistical parameters of heart rhythm and indices of spectral frequency analysis. RESULTS: During the period of breath holding, heart rate variability decreased, while at rest it increased in all groups. In group I, after a breath-hold test during the rest period, eutonia was observed according to spectral analysis (HF=LF). Statistical analysis in this group demonstrated an increase in the contribution of the parasympathetic component to heart rate variability (RMSSD, pNN50, SDNN, CV), signifying the prerequisites for increased heart rate variability. In group II, after breath-holding tests, a slight decrease in sympathetic activity was observed. A tense pattern of autonomic regulation was observed during the exhalation breath-hold test, which may indicate a reduced functional state of the regulatory systems. Group III was characterized by a sharp increase in sympathetic activation in the test with breath holding during inhalation, followed by a soft correction during breath holding during exhalation, which can be regarded as an adequate response of the body to the load. At rest, after the test, the regulation pattern returned to the original one with a moderate predominance of parasympathetic activity and, accordingly, a more favorable level of heart rate variability for the body. CONCLUSION: Adaptive reactions of the heart rate variability are manifested by an increase in sympathetic activation, which, subsequently, during normal breathing, is replaced by a compensatory activation of the parasympathetic division of the autonomous nervous system. Although reactions are unidirectional, the severity can vary across the groups.

Integrating aromatic plants into indoor biophilic environments: Species selection based on psychophysiological effects and bioactive volatile compounds

To explore aromatic plants suitable for indoor biophilic environments and their impact on long-term indoor residents' psychophysiological health, a combined method using subjective ratings, objective electrophysiological signals, and aroma characteristics was employed. The study assessed 12 indoor plants' aromas and analyzed aroma components and their potential to intervene in psychophysiological health. Results showed that different plants had varying effects on psychophysiological health, some (e.g., Vicks Plant, rosemary) showed positive impacts across most measures, while others (e.g., basil, catnip) showed negative impacts. The aroma of false incense showed significant gender differences in its effects. Smelling Vicks Plants for 5 min significantly reduced heart rate (HR), increased heart rate variability (HRV), and enhanced vigor, positively correlated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and terpenes like linalool and limonene. Higher VOCs emission was associated with lower HR and reduced anger. Cluster analysis grouped Vicks Plant and rosemary based on aroma composition and effects on psychophysiological responses, providing a basis and framework for subsequent exploration of aromatic plants with psychophysiological regulation capabilities in indoor biophilic environments.

Dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system in gastro-esophageal reflux disease: Consequences for the cardiovascular system

ObjectiveThe pathophysiology of gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD) implicates autonomic dysregulation of the lower esophageal sphincter tone. Our goal is to investigate whether this dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) function observed in isolated GERD cases can affect other systems, such as cardiovascular regulation.Methods: Twenty-five participants were included in the study, 11 patients with isolated GERD and 14 controls. All patients and 7 controls responded to a COMposite Autonomic Symptoms Score 31 (COMPASS 31) questionnaire and underwent functional explorations including EMLA test, sympathetic skin response (SSR), 24-hour heart rate recording and ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM). Seven additional controls underwent a 24-hour heart rate recording only. ResultsGERD patients (Age: mean 36.81±7.82; SR= 0.22) showed high clinically dysautonomic scores (COMPASS 31) (p = 0.015), increased Heart rate variability (HRV) parameters (daytime, nighttime, 24-hour SDNN (standard deviation of the RR interval (NN)), respectively p = 0.003, p < 0.001, p = 0.001; daytime and nighttime very low frequencies (VLF) respectively p = 0.03 and p = 0.007), impaired nocturnal dipping of blood pressure (3/11 patients) and high positivity of EMLA test (7/11, p = 0.037). These outcomes were strongly correlated with clinical dysautonomic assessment. No difference was observed between patients and controls regarding SSR. ConclusionOur data suggests a high parasympathetic tone amongst patients with GERD and a dysregulation of parasympathetic and sympathetic balance in the cardiovascular system with an impairment of the peripheral sympathetic fibers of cutaneous microcirculation, assessed by the EMLA test. GERD may be an inaugural symptom of autonomic neuropathy. Further functional exploration of peripheral small fibers seems to be necessary.

Abstract Mo062: Cpne5 is Necessary for Normal Sinoatrial Node Function

Background: Cpne5 (Copine 5) is a Ca2+-dependent phospholipid binding protein implicated in membrane trafficking but has no known role within the heart to date. In single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) of the developing mouse heart, we found Cpne5 gene expression to be highly enriched throughout the cardiac conduction system (CCS). Further, variants in CPNE5 were identified in 6 independent GWAS related to heart rate variability in humans. We therefore hypothesize that Cpne5 is necessary for normal CCS function. Objective: Determine whether Cpne5 is necessary for the normal development and/or function of the CCS. Methods: To assess the necessity of Cpne5, homozygous systemic knockout (KO) mice were generated using CRISPR/Cas9. Cpne5KO and littermate wild-type (WT) control mice were characterized using surface electrocardiogram (ECG), continuous telemetry and echocardiogram. Protein expression of Cpne5 and CCS-related ion channels were assessed by immunofluorescence of tissue sections, isolated adult murine SAN cells and whole mount immunostaining with 3D volumetric imaging (iDISCO+). Further, CRISPR-mediated deletion of CPNE5 was performed in human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC). Differentiated SAN-like cells were phenotyped via calcium transient (CaT) dynamics and microelectrode array. Results: Successful deletion of Cpne5 in CRISPR-generated KO mice was confirmed by PCR immunofluorescence. Homozygous Cpne5KO mice were viable, showed normal growth and allele frequencies segregated in a normal Mendelian fashion. No gross anatomic defects of the CCS were observed in Cpne5KO mice and transthoracic echocardiogram studies showed slight reduction in left ventricular fractional shortening but otherwise a structurally normal heart. Notably, while surface electrocardiogram (ECG) demonstrated normal intervals (PR, QRS, QTc), Cpne5KO mice exhibited pronounced sinus arrhythmia, sinus pauses, and increased heart rate variability compared to WT controls on long term telemetry. Additionally, CPNE5KO hiPSC-derived SAN-like cells exhibited irregular CaT as well as significant beat period variability compared to isogenic WT controls. Conclusion: Systemic loss-of-function of Cpne5 in mice resulted in sinus node dysfunction, consistent with an hiPSC-derived SAN model and human GWAS data, implicating a novel, cell-intrinsic role for Cpne5 in CCS function and/or development. Additional phenotyping and molecular studies are ongoing to further elucidate the underlying mechanism.

Boosting arousal and cognitive performance through alternating posture: Insights from a multi-method laboratory study.

This study investigated the role of arousal and effort costs in the cognitive benefits of alternating between sitting and standing postures using a sit-stand desk, while measuring executive functions, self-reports, physiology, and neural activity in a 2-h laboratory session aimed to induce mental fatigue. Two sessions were conducted with a one-week gap, during which participants alternated between sitting and standing postures each 20-min block in one session and remained seated in the other. In each block, inhibition, switching, and updating were assessed. We examined effects of time-on-task, acute (local) effects of standing versus sitting posture, and cumulative (global) effects of a standing posture that generalize to the subsequent block in which participants sit. Results (N = 43) confirmed that time-on-task increased mental fatigue and decreased arousal. Standing (versus sitting) led to acute increases in arousal levels, including self-reports, alpha oscillations, and cardiac responses. Standing also decreased physiological and perceived effort costs. Standing enhanced processing speed in the flanker task, attributable to shortened nondecision time and speeded evidence accumulation processes. No significant effects were observed on higher-level executive functions. Alternating postures also increased heart rate variability cumulatively over time. Exploratory mediation analyses indicated that the positive impact of acute posture on enhanced drift rate was mediated by self-reported arousal, whereas decreased nondecision time was mediated by reductions in alpha power. In conclusion, alternating between sitting and standing postures can enhance arousal, decrease effort costs, and improve specific cognitive and physiological outcomes.

Photoplethysmography recordings preceding onset atrial fibrillation show a higher heart rate variability - a TeleCheck-AF subanalysis

Abstract Background An increased heart rate variability (HRV), mostly assessed by 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) or long-term Holter monitoring, can be associated with the onset of atrial fibrillation (AF). Data evaluating HRV measurements using digital devices, especially those using photoplethysmography (PPG), in patients at risk for AF are sparse. In this analysis, we aimed to assess if hand-held-based non-continuous PPG measurements can provide short-term HRV to predict AF. Methods Patients from the TeleCheck-AF project with at least one PPG measurement in AF and one measurement in sinus rhythm (SR) were analyzed. Briefly, patients were provided with a PPG-based heart rate/rhythm monitoring smartphone app. They were instructed to record a PPG measurements three times daily and in case of symptoms for seven consecutive days. Short-term HRV using root mean square of successive normal-to-normal interval differences (RMSSD) was calculated in recordings in SR and compared between those not preceding and preceding an episode of AF (figure 1). Results Overall, 136 patients [56.3% men, median age 66 (59; 72) years] were included in the analysis. Median total number of recordings per patient was 24 (19; 30) including 4 (2;7) AF episodes per 1 week recording period. RMSSD was significantly higher in PPG measurements preceding an AF episode than in PPG measurements not preceding an AF episode [42.5 (33.2;70.7)ms vs. 41.1 (32.4;54.7)ms; p&amp;lt;0.001]. Between-group comparison revealed no significant difference for gender, age, previous ablation or betablocker therapy (p=0.824; p=0.484; p=0.519 and p=0.624, respectively). Conclusion Short-term HRV based on RMSSD, assessed by digital hand-held devices is significantly higher in PPG recordings preceding an AF episode than in measurements not preceding a consecutive AF episode. Whether PPG-recording derived short-term HRV can help to predict onset-AF warrants further study in larger populations. Figure 1: Patient example and exemplary analysis scheme, depicting the total number of recordings (n=14). HRV of recordings in sinus rhythm (SR) not preceding an episode of atrial fibrillation (AF) (A; grey circles) were compared to recordings preceding a consecutive AF episode (B; blue circles).Figure 1

Bone Mechanical Loading Reduces Heart Rate and Increases Heart Rate Variability via the Autonomic Nervous System in Anesthetized Mice

Mechanical loading of bone creates interstitial fluid flow and shear stress within the bone lacunocanalicular system, leading to alterations of bone size and mass. Bone plays an important role as an endocrine organ, releasing endocrine signaling molecules that impact systemic physiology. Further, the central and peripheral nervous systems regulate bone mass in response to strain through alterations in autonomic tone. This suggests the potential for interplay between bone and other organs via endocrine signaling and autonomic innervation. In this study, our group investigated this potential interplay by focusing on bone and heart. We hypothesized that mechanical bone loading of mice in vivo would result in altered cardiac function. To test this hypothesis, we performed acute in vivo mechanical loading on right leg tibias of anesthetized TOPGAL and CD-1 mice. Tibias underwent compressive cyclic loading (a sine wave) that modulates between -0.3N and -9.0N for 300 cycles at 2 Hz. Cardiac function was monitored with lead II electrocardiogram (ECG) data, heart rate (HR), and heart rate variability (HRV). Immediate, transient reduction in resting HR (0.93 ± 0.013 fold change from baseline, n=6-7, p&lt;0.01 compared to control) was achieved during tibial loading in 6-month-old male and female mice, with concurrent increase in HRV (1.24 ± 0.11 fold change from baseline, n=6-7, p&lt;0.01). Both HR and HRV returned to baseline levels upon completion of the loading process. ECG measurements, QRS and corrected QT (QTc), were not found to be altered (p&gt;0.05) during loading and 30 minutes following loading. In further studies, 1N-2N did not produce a decrease in HR, while 3N (0.92 ± 0.077 fold change from baseline, n=12, p&lt;0.05) and 9N (0.93 ± 0.061 fold change from baseline, n=13, p&lt;0.05) decreased HR. There was decreased magnitude and responsiveness with aging to 11 months old at 3N and 9N (p&gt;0.05), suggesting the response may weaken with age. The immediate, transient nature of the changes to resting HR and HRV suggest a neural mechanism for this response. To test this mechanism, we inhibited local neuronal afferent activity by injecting lidocaine (2.5mg/kg) near the tibia prior to loading. In doing so, the decrease in HR during loading was significantly diminished (vehicle 0.90 ± 0.060 vs. lidocaine 0.97 ± 0.042 fold change from baseline, n=7-8, p&lt;0.05). To test the efferent arm of the response, mice were injected with the parasympathetic, muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist atropine (2mg/kg), or the sympathetic, β1/β2 receptor antagonist propranolol (10mg/kg). Propranolol significantly inhibited the HR decrease during loading (vehicle 0.88 ± 0.095 vs. propranolol 0.98 ± 0.026 fold change from baseline, n=7-8, p&lt;0.05), while atropine did not (n=8-11, p&gt;0.05). These findings suggest that reductions in sympathetic tone on the heart during bone loading led to the decrease in HR. In conclusion, this study uncovered a reflexive neural connection between bone and heart that is affected by age and mediated by afferent neurons in the tibia and alterations in efferent sympathetic tone to the heart. These findings provide new knowledge that builds on the current science of bone remodeling and its regulation. This study was funded by HRSA Medical Student Education Grant T99HP39202 and NIH P01AG039355. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

SPECIAL ISSUE: Slow-Paced Contraction: An Evidence-Based Method for Increasing Heart Rate Variability

Slow-paced muscle contraction (SPC) is an easily learned method for increasing heart rate variability (HRV). SPC provides an alternative to slow-paced breathing (SPB) in clinical and optimal performance applications. SPB can be challenging (e.g., chronic pain), anatomically impossible (e.g., phrenic nerve damage), or medically contraindicated (e.g., diabetes and kidney disease). SPC may be especially helpful for clients who breathe dysfunctionally or who cannot slow their breathing to the resonance frequency (RF) range. The RF is an individual’s unique stimulation rate that maximally increases HRV. Wrist-core-ankle SPC increases several HRV metrics more than only contracting the wrists and ankles. Preliminary evidence suggests that combining wrist-ankle SPC with SPB may increase HRV more than either method alone.

Comparing multimodal physiological responses to social and physical pain in healthy participants.

Previous physiology-driven pain studies focused on examining the presence or intensity of physical pain. However, people experience various types of pain, including social pain, which induces negative mood; emotional distress; and neural activities associated with physical pain. In particular, comparison of autonomic nervous system (ANS) responses between social and physical pain in healthy adults has not been well demonstrated. We explored the ANS responses induced by two types of pain-social pain, associated with a loss of social ties; and physical pain, caused by a pressure cuff-based on multimodal physiological signals. Seventy-three healthy individuals (46 women; mean age = 20.67 ± 3.27 years) participated. Behavioral responses were assessed to determine their sensitivity to pain stimuli. Electrocardiogram, electrodermal activity, photoplethysmogram, respiration, and finger temperature (FT) were measured, and 12 features were extracted from these signals. Social pain induced increased heart rate (HR) and skin conductance (SC) and decreased blood volume pulse (BVP), pulse transit time (PTT), respiration rate (RR), and FT, suggesting a heterogeneous pattern of sympathetic-parasympathetic coactivation. Moreover, physical pain induced increased heart rate variability (HRV) and SC, decreased BVP and PTT, and resulted in no change in FT, indicating sympathetic-adrenal-medullary activation and peripheral vasoconstriction. These results suggest that changes in HR, HRV indices, RR, and FT can serve as markers for differentiating physiological responses to social and physical pain stimuli.

Effects of Yoga and Mindfulness Meditation on Stress-Related Variables: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Stressful situations lead to change in or damage to the central nervous system, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and autonomic function. Techniques for reducing stress such as yoga and mindfulness meditation have been reported to improve emotional regulation and mindfulness skill, as well as stress response. Mindfulness skill relies on intense focus to quiet the mind and bring concentration to the present moment. The present study was a randomized control trial to investigate the effects of an 8-week training program (three 45-minute sessions/week, one session with an instructor and two sessions as home practice) in mindfulness meditation or in yoga on stress and related variables in healthy people. Forty-four healthy participants were randomly allocated to one of three groups: a mindfulness group (n = 16), a yoga group (n = 13), and a control group (n = 15). The yoga training significantly modified heart rate variability, contributing to decreased relative power of the low-frequency band; the relative power of the high-frequency band increased after training. The mindfulness meditation training significantly improved mindfulness skill and concentration performance. In the present study, yoga was associated with increased heart rate variability and mindfulness meditation was associated with an increase in mindfulness skill and concentration performance.

Acute fasting modulates autonomic nervous system function and ambulatory cardiac interoception

Intermittent fasting has been associated with diverse physical and psychological health benefits. According to previous research, fasting-induced alterations in psychophysiological functioning should facilitate the accurate detection of an internal bodily signal (like the heart), which is referred to as interoceptive accuracy. In two within-subjects studies we aimed to examine whether an intermittent fasting protocol (i) evokes distinct autonomic nervous system changes in the laboratory and (ii) improves (objectifiable) interoceptive accuracy and sensibility (i.e., the subjective belief in perceiving bodily signals) in everyday life. Study 1 (N = 36) found increasing heart rate variability (precisely, the root mean square of successive differences; RMSSD) accompanied by a more vascular than myocardial response following a 16 h fast. Study 2 (N = 40) applied an ecological momentary assessment design including intermittent fasting (8 h normal eating followed by 16 h fasting) and normal eating (24 h normal eating) for three consecutive days each. Findings suggested a tendency toward higher interoceptive accuracy and sensibility during the fasting regimen, which was particularly pronounced in individuals exhibiting lower RMSSD. Together, findings suggest that (short-term) fasting seems to facilitate momentary attention to organismic cues due to alterations in autonomic nervous system function.

Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound to the Human Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Attenuates Acute Pain Perception and Autonomic Responses.

The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) is a critical brain area for pain and autonomic processing, making it a promising noninvasive therapeutic target. We leverage the high spatial resolution and deep focal lengths of low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) to noninvasively modulate the dACC for effects on behavioral and cardiac autonomic responses using transient heat pain stimuli. A N = 16 healthy human volunteers (6 M/10 F) received transient contact heat pain during either LIFU to the dACC or Sham stimulation. Continuous electroencephalogram (EEG), electrocardiogram (ECG), and electrodermal response (EDR) were recorded. Outcome measures included pain ratings, heart rate variability, EDR response, blood pressure, and the amplitude of the contact heat-evoked potential (CHEP).LIFU reduced pain ratings by 1.09 ± 0.20 points relative to Sham. LIFU increased heart rate variability indexed by the standard deviation of normal sinus beats (SDNN), low-frequency (LF) power, and the low-frequency/high-frequency (LF/HF) ratio. There were no effects on the blood pressure or EDR. LIFU resulted in a 38.1% reduction in the P2 CHEP amplitude. Results demonstrate LIFU to the dACC reduces pain and alters autonomic responses to acute heat pain stimuli. This has implications for the causal understanding of human pain and autonomic processing in the dACC and potential future therapeutic options for pain relief and modulation of homeostatic signals.

The Effect of Creative Visual Art Therapy on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate: A Literature Review (L’effet de la thérapie créative par les arts visuels sur la tension artérielle et la fréquence cardiaque : une revue de la littérature)

The effects of creative art therapy (CAT) on blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) have been scarcely examined. The objective of this study was to summarize the current literature examining the effects of CAT on BP and HR. A systematic review was completed using the databases Pubmed, Medline, and Embase. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria of the database search. One paper found an association with reduced BP, three found an association with reduced HR, four found an association with increased heart rate variability (HRV), and one found a decrease in respiratory sinus arrhythmia that is associated with an increase in HR. Additionally, two more papers that involved looking at art rather than making art are discussed, accounting for those who have reduced ability to engage in art making. The specific art modality used was also shown to affect efficacy. The effect of CAT on cardiovascular parameters remains conflicting. Most papers examined in this review present promising findings of increased heart rate variability, and reduced BP and HR. Nevertheless, other papers found conflicting effects on cardiovascular parameters. As such, further studies should be conducted to resolve the inconsistent findings in this field.

Vagal predominance correlates with mood state changes of winter-over expeditioners during prolonged Antarctic residence.

Winter-over expeditioners in Antarctica are challenged by various environmental and psycho-social stress factors, which may induce psychophysiological changes. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a crucial role in the adaptation process under stress. However, the relationship between ANS activity and the mood states of expeditioners remains largely unexplored. This study aims to uncover the pattern of ANS adjustment under extreme Antarctic environments and provide new insights into the correlations between ANS activity and mood state changes, which may provide scientific data for medical interventions. Fourteen expeditioners at Zhongshan Station participated in this study. The study was conducted during four representative periods: pre-Antarctica, Antarctica-1 (pre-winter), Antarctica-2 (winter), and Antarctica-3 (summer). The heart rate variability (HRV) of the expeditioners was continuously measured for 24 hours to evaluate ANS activity. Plasma levels of catecholamines were tested by ELISA. Mood states were assessed by the Profile of Mood States (POMS) scale. HRV analysis showed a disturbance of ANS during winter and summer periods. For frequency domain parameters, very low frequency (VLF), low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and total power (TP) significantly increased during the second half of the mission. Especially, LF/HF ratio decreased during summer, indicating the predominance of vagal tone. Results of the time domain analysis showed increased heart rate variability during the austral winter and summer. Plasma epinephrine (E) significantly increased during residence in Antarctica. Compared with pre-Antarctica, the vigor, depression, and anger scores of the expeditioners decreased significantly during the austral summer. Notably, the depression score showed a moderate positive correlation with LF/HF, while weak negative correlations with other HRV indicators, including TP, VLF, and LF. Anger score showed a moderate positive correlation with LF/HF and weak negative correlations with the average normal-to-normal (NN) interval, and the root mean square of differences between adjacent RR intervals (RMSSD). Plasma E level weakly correlated with the average NN interval. Prolonged residence in Antarctica increased the ANS activities and shifted the cardiac autonomic modulation towards vagal predominance. The alteration of HRV correlated with mood states and plasma epinephrine levels.

Can Virtual Art Touch Your Heart?—The Impact of Virtual Reality Art on Affect Considering Individual Characteristics and Aesthetic Experiences

Since the dawn of digital art, discourse regarding its potential persists. This research investigates how a virtual reality (VR) art gallery impacts positive and negative affect, examining the influences of aesthetic experiences and individual characteristics. It explores the connection between measures of aesthetic experiences (self-assessed, heart rate, and heart rate variability) and how gender influences this relationship. Digital art's beneficial effect is indicated by decreased negative affect after visiting the VR gallery, potentially influencing mental wellbeing. Individual characteristics influence this impact on affect after the VR experience, especially openness to experience and affect before the visit, mediated by aesthetic experience, and expertise mediated by heart rate. The findings highlight the potential impact of gender on subjective interpretations of physiological responses in the VR environment. Specifically, women tend to attribute heightened heart rate, a sign of arousal, while men associate increased heart rate variability, a sign of relaxation, to positive experiences in the VR.

Can job crafting eLearning intervention boost job crafting and work engagement, and increase heart rate variability? Testing a health enhancement process.

Applying job demands-resources theory, this quasiexperimental, three-wave study investigated whether work engagement can be increased via an eLearning intervention aiming to increase job crafting behavior. Furthermore, proposing a refinement to job demands-resources theory, that is, adding "a health enhancement process," this study also investigated whether through improvements in work engagement, the intervention would yield health-related benefits, utilizing an objective indicator of physical health (i.e., optimal functioning of autonomic nervous system activity indicated by increased heart rate variability [HRV]). The study was conducted among all the employees of a municipality (n = 69/experimental group, n = 45/control group), and the effects were assessed 2 weeks and 4 months after the intervention. Job crafting and work engagement were measured using an electronic questionnaire, and HRV using ambulatory monitoring period of two nights' sleep. Latent change score modeling revealed, as expected, that job crafting increased both immediately and delayed after the intervention. Furthermore, as hypothesized, the intervention increased work engagement via increased job crafting when measured immediately after the intervention, but there was no indirect delayed effect on work engagement. There were no indirect immediate or delayed effects on HRV. However, unexpectedly, HRV decreased among the control group after the intervention. Thus, an eLearning intervention based on the principles of job crafting is a promising tool to increase job crafting and consequently work engagement. Furthermore, the findings provide an initial indication that a job crafting eLearning intervention could have a buffering effect on autonomic nervous system activity and help to maintain its optimal functioning. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Validity and Efficacy of the Elite HRV Smartphone Application during Slow-Paced Breathing

Slow-paced breathing is a clinical intervention used to increase heart rate variability (HRV). The practice is made more accessible via cost-free smartphone applications like Elite HRV. We investigated whether Elite HRV can accurately measure and augment HRV via its slow-paced breathing feature. Twenty young adults completed one counterbalanced cross-over protocol involving 10 min each of supine spontaneous (SPONT) and paced (PACED; 6 breaths·min−1) breathing while RR intervals were simultaneously recorded via a Polar H10 paired with Elite HRV and reference electrocardiography (ECG). Individual differences in HRV between devices were predominately skewed, reflecting a tendency for Elite HRV to underestimate ECG-derived values. Skewness was typically driven by a limited number of outliers as median bias values were ≤1.3 ms and relative agreement was ≥very large for time-domain parameters. Despite no significant bias and ≥large relative agreement for frequency-domain parameters, limits of agreement (LOAs) were excessively wide and tended to be wider during PACED for all HRV parameters. PACED significantly increased low-frequency power (LF) for Elite HRV and ECG, and between-condition differences showed very large relative agreement. Elite HRV-guided slow-paced breathing effectively increased LF values, but it demonstrated greater precision during SPONT and in computing time-domain HRV.

Consecutive treatments of methamphetamine promote the development of cardiac pathological symptoms in zebrafish.

Chronic methamphetamine use, a widespread drug epidemic, has been associated with cardiac morphological and electrical remodeling, leading to the development of numerous cardiovascular diseases. While methamphetamine has been documented to induce arrhythmia, most results originate from clinical trials from users who experienced different durations of methamphetamine abuse, providing no documentation on the use of methamphetamine in standardized settings. Additionally, the underlying molecular mechanism on how methamphetamine affects the cardiovascular system remains elusive. A relationship was sought between cardiotoxicity and arrhythmia with associated methamphetamine abuse in zebrafish to identify and to understand the adverse cardiac symptoms associated with methamphetamine. Zebrafish were first treated with methamphetamine 3 times a week over a 2-week duration. Immediately after treatment, zebrafish underwent electrocardiogram (ECG) measurement using an in-house developed acquisition system for electrophysiological analysis. Subsequent analyses of cAMP expression and Ca2+ regulation in zebrafish cardiomyocytes were conducted. cAMP is vital to development of myocardial fibrosis and arrhythmia, prominent symptoms in the development of cardiovascular diseases. Ca2+ dysregulation is also a factor in inducing arrhythmias. During the first week of treatment, zebrafish that were administered with methamphetamine displayed a decrease in heart rate, which persisted throughout the second week and remained significantly lower than the heart rate of untreated fish. Results also indicate an increased heart rate variability during the early stage of treatment followed by a decrease in the late stage for methamphetamine-treated fish over the duration of the experiment, suggesting a biphasic response to methamphetamine exposure. Methamphetamine-treated fish also exhibited reduced QTc intervals throughout the experiment. Results from the cAMP and Ca2+ assays demonstrate that cAMP was upregulated and Ca2+ was dysregulated in response to methamphetamine treatment. Collagenic assays indicated significant fibrotic response to methamphetamine treatment. These results provide potential insight into the role of methamphetamine in the development of fibrosis and arrhythmia due to downstream effectors of cAMP.

Impact of a combination of pimobendan, furosemide, and enalapril on heart rate variability in naturally occurring, symptomatic, myxomatous mitral valve degeneration dogs

BackgroundPimobendan, diuretics, and an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) are widely used for the management of chronic valvular heart disease in dogs; however, the effects of that combination on heart rate variability (HRV) are unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess the HRV of symptomatic myxomatous mitral valve degeneration (MMVD) dogs in response to therapy with a combination of pimobendan, diuretics, and ACEi.ResultsMMVD stage C (n = 17) dogs were enrolled and a 1-hour Holter recording together with echocardiography, blood pressure measurement, and blood chemistry profiles were obtained before and 1, 3, and 6 months after oral treatment with pimobendan (0.25 mg/kg), enalapril (0.5 mg/kg), and furosemide (2 mg/kg) twice daily. The results revealed that MMVD stage C dogs at the baseline had lower values of time-domain indices, low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and total power, as well as higher value of LF/HF. Triple therapy significantly increases these parameters in MMVD stage C dogs (P < 0.05). A positive moderate correlation was observed between time domain parameters and a left ventricular internal diastole diameter normalized to body weight (P < 0.05).ConclusionsIt can be concluded that MMVD stage C dogs possess low HRV due to either the withdrawal of parasympathetic tone or enhanced sympathetic activation, and a combination therapy was shown to enhance cardiac autonomic modulation inferred from the increased heart rate variability. Therefore, a combination therapy may be useful for restoring normal autonomic nervous system activity in dogs with MMVD stage C.