The manifold effects of positive affect on heart rate variability in everyday life: Distinguishing within-person and between-person associations.

2014 ◽  
Vol 33 (9) ◽  
pp. 1065-1073 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas R. Schwerdtfeger ◽  
Ann Kathrin S. Gerteis
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Everyday Life

scholarly journals Gender Matters: Nonlinear Relationships Between Heart Rate Variability and Depression and Positive Affect

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek P. Spangler ◽  
Emily J. Dunn ◽  
Amelia Aldao ◽  
Nicole R. Feeling ◽  
Matthew L. Free ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Recent Work ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Nonlinear Functions ◽  
Emotional Outcomes ◽  
Nonlinear Associations ◽  
Quadratic Effects

Vagally mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV), a measure of the parasympathetic nervous system’s control over the heart, is often negatively related to maladaptive emotional outcomes. Recent work suggests that quadratic relationships involving these factors may be present; however, research has not investigated gender differences in these nonlinear functions. To address this gap, the current study tested for quadratic relationships between resting vmHRV and depression and positive affect while investigating gender differences in these relationships. Significant quadratic effects were found between resting vmHRV and reports of both depression symptoms and positive affect in women but not men. Specifically, the lowest levels of depression and the highest levels of positive affect were found at moderate vmHRV in women. These results suggest that examinations of vmHRV’s nonlinear associations require the consideration of gender. Our findings are interpreted based on proposed differential neuropsychological mechanisms of vmHRV in men versus women.

scholarly journals Compassion Is Not a Benzo: Distinctive Associations of Heart Rate Variability With Its Empathic and Action Components

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Di Bello ◽  
Cristina Ottaviani ◽  
Nicola Petrocchi
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Parasympathetic Activity ◽  
Emotional Pain ◽  
Physiological Regulation ◽  
Increased Sensitivity ◽  
Do So

Recent studies have linked compassion with higher vagally mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV), a measure of parasympathetic activity, and meta-analytic evidence confirmed significant and positive associations. Compassion, however, is not to be confused with soothing positive emotions: in order to engage in actions aimed to alleviate (self or others) suffering, the pain should resonate, and empathic sensitivity should be experienced first. The present study examined the association between vmHRV and the empathic sensitivity and action components of trait and state compassion. To do so, several dispositional questionnaires were administered and two videos inducing empathic sensitivity (video 1) and compassionate actions (video 2) were shown, while the ECG was continuously recorded, and momentary affect was assessed. Results showed that (i) scores on subscales assessing the empathic component of trait compassion were inversely related to resting vmHRV; (ii) vmHRV decreased after video 1 but significantly increased after video 2. As to momentary affect, video 1 was accompanied with an increase in sadness and a decrease in positive affect, whereas video 2 was characterized by an increase in anger, a parallel decrease in sadness, and an increase (although non-significant) in positive affect. Overall, present findings support the notion that it is simplistic to link compassion with higher vmHRV. Compassion encompasses increased sensitivity to emotional pain, which is naturally associated with lower vmHRV, and action to alleviate others’ suffering, which is ultimately associated with increased vmHRV. The importance of adopting a nuanced perspective on the complex physiological regulation that underlies compassionate responding to suffering is discussed.

scholarly journals Positive affect state is a good predictor of movement and stress: combining data from ESM/EMA, mobile HRV measurements and trait questionnaires

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilmari Määttänen ◽  
Pentti Henttonen ◽  
Julius Väliaho ◽  
Jussi Palomäki ◽  
Maisa Thibault ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Accelerometer Data ◽  
Combining Data ◽  
Affect States ◽  
Affect State

Personality describes the average behaviour and responses of individuals across situations; but personality traits are often poor predictors of behaviour in specific situations. This is known as the “personality paradox”.We evaluated the interrelations between various trait and state variables in participants’ everyday lives. As state measures, we used 1) experience sampling methodology (ESM/EMA) to measure perceived affect, stress, and presence of social company; and 2) heart-rate variability and real-time movement (accelerometer data) to indicate physiological stress and physical movement. These data were linked with self-report measures of personality and personality-like traits.Trait variables predicted affect states and multiple associations were found: neuroticism and rumination decreased positive affect and increased negative affect. Positive affect state, in turn, was the strongest predictor of observed movement. Positive affect was also associated with heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV). Negative affect, in turn, was not associated with neither movement, HR or HRV.The study provides evidence on the influence of personality-like traits and social context to affect states, and, in turn, their influence to movement and stress variables.

scholarly journals Impact of Himalayan Singing Bowls Meditation Session on Mood and Heart Rate Variability – An Observational Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 20-30
Author(s):  
Saharsh Panchal ◽  
Fariburz Irani ◽  
Gunjan Y Trivedi
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Physiological Parameters ◽  
Stress Index ◽  
Positive And Negative Affect ◽  
Physiological Benefits ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Singing Bowls

Introduction Scientific evidence has demonstrated the psychological and physiological benefits of meditation. Sound vibrations also improve emotional wellbeing while enhancing the physiological parameters. There is an opportunity to explore the psychological and physiological benefits of Himalayan Singing Bowls (HSB) sound bath meditation, i.e. meditation assisted with sound vibrations. Aim of the Study The study explored changes in mood and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) parameters after a HSB Sound Bath Meditation on healthy individuals. The primary objectives of the study were to understand if a 40 minute long seated HSB Sound Bath Meditation results in significant improvement (a) in positive affect and negative affect, as measured by Positive And Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) and (b) in physiological parameters, as measured by Heart Rate Variability. The secondary objective of the study was to understand the impact on various moods as measured by Profile Of Mood States (POMS) Survey. Methods The psychological parameters included changes in Positive and Negative Affect (measured on 77 individuals using PANAS) and changes in specific, positive and negative moods (measured on 17 individuals using POMS) before and after the meditation session. The physiological parameters included HRV parameters such as Heart Rate (HR), Stress Index (SI) and Root Mean Square of Standard Deviation (RMSSD) measuring during the entire session on 15 individuals using the EmWave Pro device. HRV data analysis was conducted with Kubios HRV Premium and all the data was analyzed using paired T-Test. Results All the subjects after meditation showed statistically significant improvement in Positive Affect (mood) and a reduction in Negative Affect (mood). The HRV parameters showed a trend demonstrating overall relaxation with a statistically significant reduction in HR, Stress Index and an increase in RMSSD in the last 5 minutes as compared to the first 5 minutes. Consistent with changes in positive, negative mood and HRV, all the participants showed statistically significant reduction in tension, anger, fatigue, depression and confusion. In terms of positive mood, there was a statistically significant improvement in esteem related affect and an increase (but not statistically significant) in vigor. Conclusion The findings demonstrate that seated HSB Sound Bath Meditation session has a positive impact on the mood related measures. The physiological changes measured during the meditation using HRV parameters indicated a consistent reduction in Heart Rate throughout the meditation and a reduction in overall sympathetic tone and an increase in parasympathetic tone. Thus, HSB can be used to improve both psychological and physiological parameters even after one 40 min session. Future work in this area could explore comparison with a control group and a longer study duration consisting of multiple sessions.

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