Citation Paper--Does Adding Heartfelt Emotion to Resonance Frequency Breathing Increase Heart Rate Variability?

The present study tested whether the addition of heartfelt emotion to resonance frequency (RF) breathing increases heart rate variability (HRV). Twenty-six undergraduates (18 male and 8 female), 19-23 years of age, participated in this study. A Thought Technology ProComp Infiniti[TM] system monitored heart rate and HRV using an Infiniti EKG[TM] sensor with leads placed on the upper chest and below the sternum, and respiration rate using an abdominal strain gauge placed over the navel. Heartfelt emotion was assessed with a 5-point scale and the PANAS-X Positive Affect subscale. HRV was measured using HR Max-HR Min, pNN50, RMSSD, SDNN, and VLF, LF, HF, LF/HF, and peak LF power. Data were analyzed using planned comparisons with a family wise correction with an alpha level of .05. In this within-subjects design, participants who had been trained to breathe at their resonance frequency were randomly assigned to three 5-min conditions that were separated by 2-min buffer periods: RF breathing, RF breathing with heartfelt emotion, and control. They were monitored sitting upright with their eyes open. Participants were instructed to follow an animated pacer set at their resonance frequency and received HRV biofeedback during the two RF conditions. In addition, during the RF breathing with heartfelt emotion condition, participants received the Institute of HeartMath's Heart Lock-In Technique[R] instructions. In the control condition, participants sat quietly without breathing instructions, a pacer, or HRV biofeedback. Heartfelt emotion was successfully manipulated since heartfelt emotion and positive affect scores were higher in the RF breathing with heartfelt emotion condition than in the RF breathing or control conditions. Respiration rate was successfully controlled in this experiment since respiration rates were identical during both RF breathing conditions. While both RF breathing conditions produced greater HR Max-HR Min, pNN50, RMSSD, and SDNN measurements than the control condition, in no case did the addition of heartfelt emotion instructions to RF breathing produce greater HRV values than RF breathing alone. Heartfelt emotion was not necessary to increase HRV nor did its addition to RF breathing enhance our participants' success. Future research should replicate these findings with a gender-balanced clinical sample. Keywords * Heart rate variability * Positive emotion * Respiration