This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lehrer, P. M. Articles by Hamer, R. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lehrer, P. M. Articles by Hamer, R. M. Related Collections Other Cardiovascular Medicine Psychophysiology Pulmonary Therapeutic Interventions

Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Increases Baroreflex Gain and Peak Expiratory Flow

From the Department of Psychiatry Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (P.M.L., R.E., Y.L.), Piscataway, New Jersey; UMDNJ–New Jersey Medical School, Department of Neurosciences, Newark, New Jersey (E.V., B.V.); UMDNJ–School of Public Health, Division of Biometrics (S-E.L., W.J.S.); Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University (D.L.E.), Richmond, Virginia; Department of Physics, University of Turku (T.A.K.), Turku, Finland; Department of Clinical Physiology, Kuopio University Hospital (K.U.O.T.), Kuopio, Finland; and Department of Psychiatry University of North Carolina, School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (R.M.H.).

Address reprint requests to: Paul Lehrer, Ph.D., Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 671 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA. Email: lehrer{at}umdnj.edu

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated heart rate variability biofeedback as a method for increasing vagal baroreflex gain and improving pulmonary function among 54 healthy adults.

METHODS: We compared 10 sessions of biofeedback training with an uninstructed control. Cognitive and physiological effects were measured in four of the sessions.

RESULTS: We found acute increases in low-frequency and total spectrum heart rate variability, and in vagal baroreflex gain, correlated with slow breathing during biofeedback periods. Increased baseline baroreflex gain also occurred across sessions in the biofeedback group, independent of respiratory changes, and peak expiratory flow increased in this group, independently of cardiovascular changes. Biofeedback was accompanied by fewer adverse relaxation side effects than the control condition.

CONCLUSIONS: Heart rate variability biofeedback had strong long-term influences on resting baroreflex gain and pulmonary function. It should be examined as a method for treating cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Also, this study demonstrates neuroplasticity of the baroreflex.

Key Words: biofeedback, • heart rate variability, • baroreflex, • pulmonary function, • neuroplasticity.

Abbreviations: BP = blood pressure;; HF = high frequency;; HR = heart rate;; HRV = heart rate variability;; LF = low frequency;; RSA = respiratory sinus arrhythmia.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. Ritz and B. Dahme Implementation and Interpretation of Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia Measures in Psychosomatic Medicine: Practice Against Better Evidence? Psychosom Med, July 1, 2006; 68(4): 617 - 627. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Lehrer, E. Vaschillo, S.-E. Lu, D. Eckberg, B. Vaschillo, A. Scardella, and R. Habib Heart rate variability biofeedback: effects of age on heart rate variability, baroreflex gain, and asthma. Chest, February 1, 2006; 129(2): 278 - 284. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Vaschillo, B. Vaschillo, P. Lehrer, F. Yasuma, and J.-i. Hayano Heartbeat Synchronizes With Respiratory Rhythm Only Under Specific Circumstances Chest, October 1, 2004; 126(4): 1385 - 1387. [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. M. Lehrer, E. Vaschillo, B. Vaschillo, S.-E. Lu, A. Scardella, M. Siddique, and R. H. Habib Biofeedback Treatment for Asthma Chest, August 1, 2004; 126(2): 352 - 361. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]