The Influence of an Alpha Band Neurofeedback Training in Heart Rate Variability in Athletes

Neurofeedback training is a technique which has seen a widespread use in clinical applications, but has only given its first steps in the sport environment. Therefore, there is still little information about the effects that this technique might have on parameters, which are relevant for athletes’ health and performance, such as heart rate variability, which has been linked to physiological recovery. In the sport domain, no studies have tried to understand the effects of neurofeedback training on heart rate variability, even though some studies have compared the effects of doing neurofeedback or heart rate biofeedback training on performance. The main goal of the present study was to understand if alpha-band neurofeedback training could lead to increases in heart rate variability. 30 male student-athletes, divided into two groups, (21.2 ± 2.62 year 2/week protocol and 22.6 ± 1.1 year 3/week protocol) participated in the study, of which three subjects were excluded. Both groups performed a pre-test, a trial session and 12 neurofeedback sessions, which consisted of 25 trials of 60 s of a neurofeedback task, with 5 s rest in-between trials. The total neurofeedback session time for each subject was 300 min in both groups. Throughout the experiment, electroencephalography and heart rate variability signals were recorded. Only the three sessions/week group revealed significant improvements in mean heart rate variability at the end of the 12 neurofeedback sessions (p = 0.05); however, significant interaction was not found when compared with both groups. It is possible to conclude that neurofeedback training of individual alpha band may induce changes in heart rate variability in physically active athletes.

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Getting off the Bench: EEG and HRV Differences Between Starters and Nonstarters

Biofeedback ◽

10.5298/1081-5937-40.1.5 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 34-38 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Lindsay Shaw ◽

Vietta Wilson ◽

Stephanie Nihon

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Biofeedback Training ◽

Division I ◽

Eeg Biofeedback ◽

Neurofeedback Training ◽

Brain Waves ◽

Performance Domains ◽

Lower Ratio ◽

Insight Into

There is a strong interest in what separates top-level performers from those who have yet to achieve the same level, across all performance domains. Advances in psychophysiology give insight into where these differences may lie in the minds and bodies of athletes. The present study compared gymnasts who were selected for the competitive lineup to those who were considered part of the Division I gymnastics beam squad but did not compete. This study compared their initial baselines, their response to heart rate variability and neurofeedback training, and their posttraining levels. Baseline differences existed for self-perception of consistency and confidence. There were no pre or post differences in heart rate variability measures. Sensorimotor rhythm electroencephalography (EEG) biofeedback training was associated with a decline in busy brain waves for the competitors. The competitors also had a lower ratio of intensity (intensity/high alpha) in both the pre- and post-EEG measures.

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Effectiveness of Training Prescription Guided by Heart Rate Variability Versus Predefined Training for Physiological and Aerobic Performance Improvements: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app10238532 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (23) ◽

pp. 8532

Author(s):

Juan Pablo Medellín Ruiz ◽

Jacobo Ángel Rubio-Arias ◽

Vicente Javier Clemente-Suarez ◽

Domingo Jesús Ramos-Campo

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Aerobic Performance ◽

Physically Active ◽

Performance Improvements ◽

Physiological Variables ◽

Effectiveness Of Training ◽

And Performance

A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to determine if heart rate variability-guided training (HRV-g), compared to predefined training (PT), maximizes the further improvement of endurance physiological and performance markers in healthy individuals. This analysis included randomized controlled trials assessing the effects of HRV-g vs. PT on endurance physiological and performance markers in untrained, physically active, and well-trained subjects. Eight articles qualified for inclusion. HRV-g training significantly improved maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) (MD = 2.84, CI: 1.41, 4.27; p < 0.0001), maximum aerobic power or speed (WMax) (SMD = 0.66, 95% CI 0.33, 0.98; p < 0.0001), aerobic performance (SMD = 0.71, CI 0.16, 1.25; p = 0.01) and power or speed at ventilatory thresholds (VT) VT1 (SMD = 0.62, CI 0.04, 1.20; p = 0.04) and VT2 (SMD = 0.81, CI 0.41, 1.22; p < 0.0001). However, HRV-g did not show significant differences in VO2max (MD = 0.96, CI −1.11, 3.03; p = 0.36), WMax (SMD = 0.06, CI −0.26, 0.38; p = 0.72), or aerobic performance (SMD = 0.14, CI −0.22, 0.51; p = 0.45) in power or speed at VT1 (SMD = 0.27, 95% CI −0.16, 0.70; p = 0.22) or VT2 (SMD = 0.18, 95% CI −0.20, 0.57; p = 0.35), when compared to PT. Although HRV-based training periodization improved both physiological variables and aerobic performance, this method did not provide significant benefit over PT.

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Indices of Heart Rate Variability and Performance During a Response-Conflict Task Are Differently Associated With ADHD and Autism

Journal of Attention Disorders ◽

10.1177/1087054720972793 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 108705472097279

Author(s):

Alessio Bellato ◽

Iti Arora ◽

Puja Kochhar ◽

Chris Hollis ◽

Madeleine J. Groom

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Sensory Information ◽

Response Conflict ◽

Mediation Model ◽

Conflict Task ◽

Accurate Performance ◽

And Performance ◽

Comorbid Adhd ◽

The Relationship

We investigated autonomic arousal, attention and response conflict, in ADHD and autism. Heart rate variability (HRV), and behavioral/electrophysiological indices of performance, were recorded during a task with low and high levels of response conflict in 78 children/adolescents (7–15 years old) with ADHD, autism, comorbid ADHD+autism, or neurotypical. ANOVA models were used to investigate effects of ADHD and autism, while a mediation model was tested to clarify the relationship between ADHD and slower performance. Slower and less accurate performance characterized ADHD and autism; however, atypical electrophysiological indices differently characterized these conditions. The relationship between ADHD and slower task performance was mediated by reduced HRV in response to the cue stimulus. Autonomic hypo-arousal and difficulties in mobilizing energetic resources in response to sensory information (associated with ADHD), and atypical electrophysiological indices of information processing (associated with autism), might negatively affect cognitive performance in those with ADHD+autism.

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Field Monitoring the Effects of Overnight Shift Work on Specialist Tactical Police Training with Heart Rate Variability Analysis

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13147895 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (14) ◽

pp. 7895

Author(s):

Colin Tomes ◽

Ben Schram ◽

Robin Orr

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Shift Work ◽

Emergency Response ◽

Police Training ◽

Heart Rate Variability Analysis ◽

Response Team ◽

Hrv Analysis ◽

And Performance ◽

Personnel Allocation

Police work exposes officers to high levels of stress. Special emergency response team (SERT) service exposes personnel to additional demands. Specifically, the circadian cycles of SERT operators are subject to disruption, resulting in decreased capacity to compensate in response to changing demands. Adaptive regulation loss can be measured through heart rate variability (HRV) analysis. While HRV Trends with health and performance indicators, few studies have assessed the effect of overnight shift work on HRV in specialist police. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effects overnight shift work on HRV in specialist police. HRV was analysed in 11 SERT officers and a significant (p = 0.037) difference was found in pRR50 levels across the training day (percentage of R-R intervals varying by >50 ms) between those who were off-duty and those who were on duty the night prior. HRV may be a valuable metric for quantifying load holistically and can be incorporated into health and fitness monitoring and personnel allocation decision making.

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Baseline heart rate variability (HRV) and performance during a set-shifting visuospatial learning task: the moderating effect of trait negative affectivity (NA) on behavioral flexibility

Physiology & Behavior ◽

10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113647 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 113647

Author(s):

Breannan C. Howell ◽

Derek A. Hamilton

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Negative Affectivity ◽

Behavioral Flexibility ◽

Learning Task ◽

Moderating Effect ◽

Baseline Heart Rate ◽

Set Shifting ◽

Visuospatial Learning ◽

And Performance

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A pilot study investigating the relationship between heart rate variability and blood pressure in young adults at risk for cardiovascular disease

Clinical Hypertension ◽

10.1186/s40885-021-00185-z ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Linda P. Bolin ◽

Amelia D. Saul ◽

Lauren L. Bethune Scroggs ◽

Carolyn Horne

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Family History ◽

Diastolic Blood Pressure ◽

Biofeedback Training ◽

Paced Breathing ◽

History Of

Abstract Background Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death globally with hypertension being a primary cause of premature death from this disease process. Individuals with a family history of cardiovascular disease and hypertension are at a greater risk for developing the same sequela. Autonomic cardiac control is important in the level of cardiac function. One intervention that is effective in improving cardiovascular function is heart rate variability biofeedback training. The purpose of our study was to determine the effectiveness of heart rate biofeedback training on HRV and blood pressure in individuals with a family history of cardiovascular disease. Methods Thirty-four participants (76.5% female, 22.7 ± 4.3 years) completed a baseline assessment and training using an established short-term HRV protocol followed by two weeks of at-home paced breathing employing a smartphone application. The participants were then reassessed in a biofeedback clinic. Results The participants physiological measures showed a significant increase in means between pre and post intervention of SDNN (t (32) = 2.177, p =.037) and TP, (t (32) = 2.327 p = .026). Correlation noted a medium effect on diastolic blood pressure and high frequency heart rate variability, F, r = .41, n =33, p < .05. A multiple regression with all predictor variables in the model found no significance with diastolic and systolic blood pressure. Conclusions The findings from this pilot study demonstrated that a two-week paced breathing intervention may assist in reducing heart rate and diastolic blood pressure while improving heart rate variability.

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