scholarly journals A Review of Field Experiments on the Effect of Forest Bathing on Anxiety and Heart Rate Variability

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 216495611984865 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc R Farrow ◽  
Kyle Washburn
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Parasympathetic Nervous System ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Psychological Benefits ◽  
The West ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Forest Bathing

Many studies have explored the physiological and psychological benefits of the Japanese nature therapy practice of “shinrin-yoku,” known in the West as forest bathing. This review article has narrowed its focus to include the most recent literature about the beneficial effects of forest bathing on heart rate variability, expressed as an increase in InHF, indicating activation of the parasympathetic nervous system and also its effect on reducing anxiety.

scholarly journals A Pragmatic Controlled Trial of Forest Bathing Compared with Compassionate Mind Training in the UK: Impacts on Self-Reported Wellbeing and Heart Rate Variability

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1380
Author(s):  
Kirsten McEwan ◽  
David Giles ◽  
Fiona J. Clarke ◽  
Yasu Kotera ◽  
Gary Evans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Increase Heart Rate ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Forest Bathing ◽  
Mind Training

Forest Bathing, where individuals use mindfulness to engage with nature, has been reported to increase heart rate variability and benefit wellbeing. To date, most Forest Bathing studies have been conducted in Asia. Accordingly, this paper reports the first pragmatic controlled trial of Forest Bathing in the United Kingdom, comparing Forest Bathing with a control comprising an established wellbeing intervention also known to increase heart rate variability called Compassionate Mind Training. Sixty-one university staff and students (50 females, 11 males) were allocated to (i) Forest Bathing, (ii) Compassionate Mind Training or (iii) Forest Bathing combined with Compassionate Mind Training. Wellbeing and heart rate variability were measured at baseline, post-intervention and three-months follow-up. There were improvements in positive emotions, mood disturbance, rumination, nature connection and compassion and 57% of participants showed an increase in heart rate variability. There were no significant differences between conditions, showing that Forest Bathing had equivalence with an established wellbeing intervention. The findings will help healthcare providers and policy makers to understand the effects of Forest Bathing and implement it as a feasible social prescription to improve wellbeing. Future research needs to involve clinical populations and to assess the effects of Forest Bathing in a fully powered randomised controlled trial.

scholarly journals Effects of exercise on cardiac autonomic modulation in children: literature update

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 627-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo Henrique de Oliveira Mondoni ◽  
Luiz Carlos Marques Vanderlei ◽  
Bruno Saraiva ◽  
Franciele Marques Vanderlei
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Autonomic Nervous System ◽  
Parasympathetic Nervous System ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Autonomic Modulation ◽  
Healthy Development ◽  
Autonomic Nervous ◽  
Cardiac Autonomic Modulation

AbstractIntroduction It is known that physical exercise is beneficial and precipitates adjustments to the autonomic nervous system. However, the effect of exercise on cardiac autonomic modulation in children, despite its importance, is poorly investigated.Objective To bring together current information about the effects of exercise on heart rate variability in healthy and obese children.Methods The literature update was performed through a search for articles in the following databases; PubMed, PEDro, SciELO and Lilacs, using the descriptors “exercise” and “child” in conjunction with the descriptors “autonomic nervous system”, “sympathetic nervous system”, “parasympathetic nervous system” and also with no descriptor, but the key word of this study, “heart rate variability”, from January 2005 to December 2012.Results After removal of items that did not fit the subject of the study, a total of 9 articles were selected, 5 with healthy and 4 with obese children.Conclusion The findings suggest that exercise can act in the normalization of existing alterations in the autonomic nervous system of obese children, as well as serve as a preventative factor in healthy children, enabling healthy development of the autonomic nervous system until the child reaches adulthood.

scholarly journals Does non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation affect heart rate variability? A living and interactive Bayesian meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinzent Wolf ◽  
Anne Kühnel ◽  
Vanessa Teckentrup ◽  
Julian Koenig ◽  
Nils B. Kroemer
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Brain Stimulation ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Non Invasive

AbstractNon-invasive brain stimulation techniques, such as transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), have considerable potential for clinical use. Beneficial effects of taVNS have been demonstrated on symptoms in patients with mental or neurological disorders as well as transdiagnostic dimensions, including mood and motivation. However, since taVNS research is still an emerging field, the underlying neurophysiological processes are not yet fully understood, and the replicability of findings on biomarkers of taVNS effects has been questioned. Here, we perform a living Bayesian random effects meta-analysis to synthesize the current evidence concerning the effects of taVNS on heart rate variability (HRV), a candidate biomarker that has, so far, received most attention in the field. To keep the synthesis of evidence transparent and up to date as new studies are being published, we developed a Shiny web app that regularly incorporates new results and enables users to modify study selection criteria to evaluate the robustness of the inference across potential confounds. Our analysis focuses on 17 single-blind studies comparing taVNS versus sham in healthy participants. These newly synthesized results provide strong evidence for the null hypothesis (g = 0.011, CIshortest = [−0.103, 0.125], BF01 = 25.587), indicating that acute taVNS does not alter HRV compared to sham. To conclude, based on a synthesis of the available evidence to date, there is no support for the hypothesis that HRV is a robust biomarker for acute taVNS. By increasing transparency and timeliness, we believe that the concept of living meta-analyses can lead to transformational benefits in emerging fields such as non-invasive brain stimulation.

scholarly journals Assessment of the impact of 10-day intermittent hypoxia on the autonomic control measured by heart rate variability

2018 ◽  
Vol 105 (4) ◽  
pp. 386-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
ZZ Taralov ◽  
KV Terziyski ◽  
PK Dimov ◽  
BI Marinov ◽  
SS Kostianev
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Parasympathetic Nervous System ◽  
Autonomic Control ◽  
Total Power ◽  
Hypoxic Exposure ◽  
Intermittent Hypoxic Training ◽  
Parasympathetic Nervous System Activity ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this study is to establish the alterations in the activity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) via heart rate variability (HRV) in subjects exposed to 1 h of exogenous hypoxia for 10 consecutive days. Methods Twelve healthy non-smoker males at mean age of 29.8 ± 7.4 (mean ± SD) breathed hypoxic air delivered through hypoxicator (FiО2 = 12.3% ± 1.5%) for 1 h in 10 consecutive days. Pulse oximetry and electrocardiography were monitored during the visit and HRV was calculated for the entire 1-h hypoxic period. Results Comparing the last hypoxic visit to the first, subjects had higher standard deviation of normal-to-normal interbeat intervals (SDNNs) (65.7 ± 32.5 vs. 81.1 ± 32.0 ms, p = 0.013) and root mean square of successive R–R interval difference (RMSSD) (58.1 ± 30.9 vs. 76.5 ± 34.6 ms, p = 0.029) as well as higher lnTotal power (8.1 ± 1.1 vs. 8.5 ± 0.9 ms2, p = 0.015) and high frequency (lnHF) (6.8 ± 1.3 vs. 7.5 ± 1.2 ms2, p = 0.05) and lower LF/HF (2.4 ± 1.4 vs. 1.5 ± 1.0, p = 0.026). Changes in saturation (87.0 ± 7.1 vs. 90.8 ± 5.0%, p = 0.039) and heart rate (67.1 ± 8.9 vs. 62.5 ± 6.0 beats/min, p = 0.040) were also observed. Conclusions Intermittent hypoxic training consisting of 1-h hypoxic exposure for 10 consecutive days could diminish the effects of acute exogenous hypoxia on the ANS characterized by an increased autonomic control (SDNN and total power) with augmentation of the parasympathetic nervous system activity (increased RMSSD and HF and decreased LF/HF). Therefore, it could be applied as a pre-acclimatization technique aiming at an increase in the autonomic control and oxygen saturation in subjects with upcoming sojourn to high altitude.

scholarly journals Heart rate variability in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camila Balsamo Gardim ◽  
Bruno Affonso P. de Oliveira ◽  
Aline Fernanda B. Bernardo ◽  
Rayana Loch Gomes ◽  
Francis Lopes Pacagnelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Type 1 Diabetes ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Parasympathetic Nervous System ◽  
Vagal Activity ◽  
Mesh Terms

OBJECTIVE:To gather current information about the effects of type 1 diabetes mellitus on children's cardiac autonomic behavior.DATA SOURCES: The search of articles was conducted on PubMed, Ibecs, Medline, Cochrane, Lilacs, SciELO and PEDro databases using the MeSH terms: "autonomic nervous system", "diabetes mellitus", "child", "type 1 diabetes mellitus", "sympathetic nervous system" and "parasympathetic nervous system", and their respective versions in Portuguese (DeCS). Articles published from January 2003 to February 2013 that enrolled children with 9-12 years old with type 1 diabetes mellitus were included in the review.DATA SYNTHESIS: The electronic search resulted in four articles that approached the heart rate variability in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus, showing that, in general, these children present decreased global heart rate variability and vagal activity. The practice of physical activity promoted benefits for these individuals.CONCLUSIONS: Children with type 1 diabetes mellitus present changes on autonomic modulation, indicating the need for early attention to avoid future complications in this group.

The Benefits of a Mindfulness Exercise in a Performance Situation

2017 ◽  
Vol 121 (5) ◽  
pp. 853-876
Author(s):  
Fay C. M. Geisler ◽  
Myriam N. Bechtoldt ◽  
Nils Oberländer ◽  
Maik Schacht-Jablonowsky
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Achievement Test ◽  
Negative Association ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Trait Mindfulness ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Relaxation Exercise ◽  
And Performance ◽  
A Performance

Background Mindfulness is a state of nonjudgmental attentiveness to moment-to-moment experiences. Interest in implementing mindfulness-based interventions is growing. Objective We investigated the benefit of a short mindfulness exercise for mindfulness novices in a performance situation. Method Participants ( N = 97) engaged in a mindfulness or relaxation exercise and subsequently worked on an achievement test. Results Participants in the mindfulness condition had fewer distracting evaluative thoughts during and experienced less negative affect after the achievement test. Participants also exerted less self-control (vagal withdrawal measured via heart rate variability) during the mindfulness exercise than on the relaxation exercise. In a subsample ( n = 84), selected on the basis of serious involvement in the exercise, mindfulness eliminated the negative association between distracting evaluative thoughts and performance. Furthermore, beneficial effects of mindfulness on distractive thoughts were found for participants low but not high in trait mindfulness. The mindfulness exercise did not influence performance. Conclusion In performance contexts, even brief mindfulness exercises may have beneficial effects for mindfulness novices and people low in trait mindfulness.

Poincaré Plot of Heart Rate Variability Allows Quantitative Display of Parasympathetic Nervous Activity in Humans

1996 ◽  
Vol 91 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Walter Kamen ◽  
Henry Krum ◽  
Andrew Maxwell Tonkin
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Parasympathetic Nervous System ◽  
Poincaré Plot ◽  
System Activity ◽  
Nervous System Activity ◽  
Quartile Range ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Parasympathetic Nervous System Activity

1. Time domain summary statistics and frequency domain parameters can be used to measure heart rate variability. More recently, qualitative methods including the Poincaré plot have been used to evaluate heart rate variability. The aim of this study was to validate a novel method of quantitative analysis of the Poincaré plot using conventional statistical techniques. 2. Beat-to-beat heart rate variability was measured over a relatively short period of time (10–20 min) in 12 healthy subjects aged between 20 and 40 years (mean 30 ± 7 years) during (i) supine rest, (ii) head-up tilt (sympathetic activation, parasympathetic nervous system activity withdrawal), (iii) intravenous infusion of atropine (parasympathetic nervous system activity withdrawal), and (iv) after overnight administration of low-dose transdermal scopolamine (parasympathetic nervous system augmentation). 3. The ‘width’ of the Poincaré plot, as quantified by SD delta R—R (the difference between successive R—R intervals), was determined at rest (median 48.9, quartile range 20 ms) and found to be significantly reduced during tilt (median 19.1, quartile range 13.7 ms, P < 0.01) and atropine administration (median 7.1, quartile range 5.7 ms, P < 0.01) and increased by scopolamine (median 79.3, quartile range 33 ms, P < 0.01). Furthermore, log variance of delta R—R intervals correlated almost perfectly with log high-frequency (0.15–0.4 Hz) power (r = 0.99, P < 0.01). 4. These findings strongly suggest that the ‘width’ of the Poincaré plot is a measure of parasympathetic nervous system activity. The Poincaré plot is therefore a quantitative visual tool which can be applied to the analysis of R—R interval data gathered over relatively short time periods.

scholarly journals Heart rate variability—study in futsal athletes

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joaquim Pereira ◽  
Ana Santos ◽  
Telmo Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Parasympathetic Nervous System ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Record Heart Rate ◽  
Physiological Adaptations ◽  
Resting Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Electrocardiogram Ecg

Abstract Background The practice of high perfomance sports leads to alterations of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The study of heart rate variability (HRV) resorting to the electrocardiogram (ECG) is a practical, efficient and non invasive tool that allows the monitorization of the cardiac-autonomic function in high perfomance athletes, exposing the physiological adaptations to repeated and intense physical exercise. To evaluate the resting heart rate variability of futsal players resorting to the electrocardiogram during the pre-season and competitive season. Methods The sample used in this study was composed of fifteen male futsal athletes, subjected to a resting electrocardiogram in supine position with the duration of 6 minutes, at two different moments. Results From the first to the second record heart rate variability, it was observed a significant decrease in heart rate from 66.53 ± 10.39 bpm to 61.50 ± 11.14 bpm (P &lt; 0.05) and the indexes related to the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), RMSSD, pNN50, HFnu did not present statistical significance (P &gt; 0.05) despite the verified increased of absolute values from the first to the second evaluation. Conclusions We were able to observe a decrease in heart rate (HR), as well as, a tendency for elevated parasympathetic indexes and a vagal predominance from the first to the second moment of evaluation. The monitorization of heart rate variability can be useful to identify adaptations to competitive loads and, thus, planning adequate training loads for each athlete, avoiding the occurrence of lesions and fatigue and allowing an improvement in performance.

scholarly journals Postural Changes on Heart Rate Variability among Older Population: A Preliminary Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Warawoot Chuangchai ◽  
Wiraporn Pothisiri
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Supine Position ◽  
Parasympathetic Nervous System ◽  
Standing Position ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Sitting Position ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Postural Changes

Objective. This study aims to investigate an association between body postures and autonomic nervous system (ANS) responses through analysis of short-term heart rate variability (HRV) data obtained through electrocardiography. Methods. Forty older individuals were recruited to form the sample. HRV measurements were taken in three positions—sitting, supine, and standing—and compared. Results. Results demonstrated statistically significant differences in the HRV parameters used to examine the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), specifically in the measurements obtained from the sitting position and the supine position ( P  < 0.001 for PNS and P  = 0.011 for SNS). The differences in these parameters were, however, negligible between the sitting and the standing positions. Moreover, the ANS responses obtained in the sitting position were strongly and positively correlated with those in the standing position (r = 0.854 for PNS and r = 0.794 for SNS). These results suggested that the PNS and SNS parameters obtained while sitting were likely to be affected by orthostatic hypotension in much the same way as those in the standing position, as compared to the supine position. Conclusions. As such, sitting may not be the best position for older individuals in the assessment of their autonomic responses, whereas the supine position is recommended as the baseline posture in the old-age population. These findings are useful for future research in clinical settings that require accuracy in the ANS responses as determined by the HRV measurements.

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