{"title":"The Effect of Neurofeedback Training on Executive Control Network of Attention and Dart-Throwing Performance in Individuals with Trait Anxiety","authors":"Hadis Kavianipoor, Alireza Farsi, Alireza Bahrami","doi":"10.1007/s10484-023-09587-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10484-023-09587-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study aimed to investigate the effect of neurofeedback training on the executive control network of attention and dart-throwing skill performance in individuals with trait anxiety. Twenty girls (24.65 <span>( pm )</span> 2.83 years) participated in this study. They were divided into neurofeedback and control training groups. All participants practiced 14 sessions. The neurofeedback group performed neurofeedback training (increasing SMR wave, decreasing theta, and increasing alpha) and dart-throwing exercise, and the control group only completed the dart-throwing exercise. The post-test, including Attentional Networks Test (ANT) and dart-throwing, was conducted 48 h after the last training session. The results revealed a significant difference in the performance of the executive control network and dart-throwing skill between the neurofeedback and the control training group. In general, these findings support the effect of neurofeedback training on the neural mechanisms of the executive control network of attention, and performance in dart-throwing skill improves by improving attentional performance processes.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":47506,"journal":{"name":"Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback","volume":"48 3","pages":"379 - 391"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10016853","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Pilot Study of the Biofeedback Training to Reduce Salivary Cortisol Level and Improve Mental Health in Highly-Trained Female Athletes","authors":"Yücel Makaracı, Melek Makaracı, Erdal Zorba, Franziska Lautenbach","doi":"10.1007/s10484-023-09589-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10484-023-09589-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Biofeedback (BFB) training can provide a useful resource for athletes to cope with stress. However, the effects of BFB training on acute and chronic endocrine stress responses, parasympathetic activity, and mental health in competitive athletes have not been explored yet. This pilot study examined the effects of a 7-week BFB training on psychophysiological parameters in highly trained female athletes. Six highly trained female volleyball players (mean age: 17.50 ± 1.05 years) volunteered to participate in the study. Athletes individually attended 21-session heart rate variability (HRV)-BFB training consisting of six minutes for 7 weeks. A BFB device (Nexus 10) was used to measure the athletes’ physiological responses reflecting HRV. To assess the cortisol awakening response (CAR), saliva samples were collected immediately after awakening and 15 min, 30 min, and 60 min post-awakening. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 was filled out before and after the intervention to assess mental health. Furthermore, athletes provided saliva samples during eight sessions pre- and immediately post-session. Mid-day cortisol levels decreased significantly after the intervention. No significant change was observed in CAR and physiological responses after the intervention. A significant decrease in cortisol level was observed in BFB sessions in which cortisol level was assessed, except for two sessions. We concluded that short sessions of 7-week HRV-BFB training could be used as an effective method to control autonomic functions and stress of female athletes. Although the present study provides strong evidence for the psychophysiological well-being of athletes, further investigations with larger samples are needed.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":47506,"journal":{"name":"Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback","volume":"48 3","pages":"357 - 367"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9965377","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Meditation Based Cognitive Therapy (HMBCT) for Primary Insomnia: A Treatment Feasibility Pilot Study","authors":"Chandan Kumar Behera, Tharun Kumar Reddy, Laxmidhar Behera, Niels Birbaumer, Krishna Ika","doi":"10.1007/s10484-023-09586-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10484-023-09586-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Previous research has indicated a critical need for cost-effective alternative therapies. The present pilot study aimed to evaluate a novel, cost-effective therapy for treating insomnia. The study employed a randomized controlled trial with two groups: therapy and control. Participants were screened using research diagnostic criteria for insomnia recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) before undergoing simple randomization. The study included participants from Hindu, Muslim, and Christian faiths who were assigned to either the therapy group (Hare Krishna Mantra Based Cognitive Therapy: HMBCT) or the non-therapy group (control with relaxing music). Both groups underwent six weeks of treatment with traditional cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques, including stimulus control, sleep restriction, and sleep hygiene. Each week, participants in the therapy group received six 45-minute sessions of HMBCT in the evening and were asked to practice the therapy in the evening of the day of sleep recording. Sleep quality was assessed using behavioral measures, sleep logs, and polysomnography recordings before and after the six-week treatment period. There was a one-week period before and after the six weeks when no treatment was provided. Results showed that HMBCT significantly improved sleep quality measures, including a 61% reduction in Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores and an 80% reduction in Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scores. Participants did not take any sleep-inducing medication during the study. These findings suggest that adding mantra chanting to traditional cognitive-behavioral therapy may improve sleep quality.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":47506,"journal":{"name":"Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback","volume":"48 3","pages":"369 - 378"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9963218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effect of Biofeedback-Based Interventions on the Psychological Outcomes of Pediatric Populations: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis","authors":"Eyşan Hanzade Umaç, Remziye Semerci","doi":"10.1007/s10484-023-09583-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10484-023-09583-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>We performed a systematic and meta-analytic review of biofeedback-based interventions on psychological outcomes among pediatric populations. The literature search for this study was conducted in eight databases, including PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, CINAHL, Embase (OVID), Web of Science, PsycINFO (all via Ovid SP), and Google Scholar. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Checklists for experimental and quasi-experimental studies that was developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. We analyzed the effects of biofeedback-based interventions on psychological outcomes in the pediatric population by following the Preferred Reporting System for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis. This systematic review and meta-analysis included nine studies with a total sample size of 658 children. In this study, EEG, EMG, and heart rate variability biofeedback were utilized to treat psychological symptoms in children. All studies focused on anxiety, with only one studying depression. As a result, it was found that all types of biofeedback effectively reduced children’s anxiety levels. It was recommended that biofeedback-based interventions should be used to reduce children’s anxiety.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":47506,"journal":{"name":"Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback","volume":"48 3","pages":"299 - 310"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9959995","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Potential of Heart Rate Variability Monitoring for Mental Health Assessment in Top Wheel Gymnastics Athletes: A Single Case Design","authors":"Yuki Matsuura, Genta Ochi","doi":"10.1007/s10484-023-09585-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10484-023-09585-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The assessment of heart rate variability (HRV) upon waking has been proposed as a method to evaluate mental health; however, owing to large individual differences among athletes, it is unclear whether HRV is adequate to predict mental health decline. In this study, we sought to establish this by evaluating HRV upon awakening in one athlete over 20 months. We assessed mental health once a month by calculating the depression index. In addition, self-reported training load and psychological fatigue index were assessed as psychological indices for athletes. Heart rate and HRV were each measured three days per week in both resting (supine) and standing (upright) positions. The results showed that orthostatic HRV upon waking had moderate linear relationships with the scores on the depression index and psychological fatigue index. By contrast, self-reported training load, a measure of physical stressor, was not associated with HRV. The findings suggest that the repeated assessment of HRV upon waking and mental health indicators may be useful in preventing mental health decline in athletes.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":47506,"journal":{"name":"Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback","volume":"48 3","pages":"335 - 343"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10484-023-09585-3.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10334425","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Katja Petrowski, Liza Mekschrat, Stefan Bührer, Martin Siepmann, Christian Albus, Bjarne Schmalbach
{"title":"Effects of Post-awakening Light Exposure on Heart Rate Variability in Healthy Male Individuals","authors":"Katja Petrowski, Liza Mekschrat, Stefan Bührer, Martin Siepmann, Christian Albus, Bjarne Schmalbach","doi":"10.1007/s10484-023-09581-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10484-023-09581-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Light-induced effects on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) are assumed to be mediated by retinal projections to the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) via different routes. Light information for the circadian system is detected by a subset of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), however, inconsistency exists in research concerning the effects of light exposure on heart rate variability (HRV). Two within-subject experiments were conducted in a standardized sleep laboratory to investigate effects of light intensity (study I, <i>n</i> = 29: 2 days dim vs. bright light) and spectral composition (study II, <i>n</i> = 24: 3 days using red vs. blue vs. green light) on HRV parameters (RMSSD, LF, HF-HRV, LF/HF ratio). Light exposure was conducted for one-hour in the post-awakening phase at 5:00 AM. Results revealed no significant light intensity effect comparing dim light versus bright white light on HRV parameters. Light color of different wavelengths significantly influenced all HRV parameters except the low frequency, with moderate to large effect sizes. RMSSD values were elevated for all three colors compared to norm values, indicating stronger parasympathetic activation. LED light of different spectral compositions demonstrated bidirectional effects on spectral components of the HRV. Red light decreased the LF/HF ratio within 30 min, whereas with blue light, LF/HF ratio consistently increased across 40 min of light exposure.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":47506,"journal":{"name":"Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback","volume":"48 3","pages":"311 - 321"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10484-023-09581-7.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10030317","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mikołaj Tytus Szulczewski, Martina D’Agostini, Ilse Van Diest
{"title":"Expiratory-gated Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) does not Further Augment Heart Rate Variability During Slow Breathing at 0.1 Hz","authors":"Mikołaj Tytus Szulczewski, Martina D’Agostini, Ilse Van Diest","doi":"10.1007/s10484-023-09584-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10484-023-09584-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>As cardiac vagal control is a hallmark of good health and self-regulatory capacity, researchers are seeking ways to increase vagally mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV) in an accessible and non-invasive way. Findings with transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) have been disappointing in this respect, as its effects on vmHRV are inconsistent at best. It has been speculated that combining taVNS with other established ways to increase vmHRV may produce synergistic effects. To test this idea, the present study combined taVNS with slow breathing in a cross-over design. A total of 22 participants took part in two sessions of breathing at 6 breaths/min: once combined with taVNS, and once combined with sham stimulation. Electrical stimulation (100 Hz, 400 µs) was applied during expiration, either to the tragus and cavum conchae (taVNS) or to the earlobe (sham). ECG was recorded during baseline, 20-minutes of stimulation, and the recovery period. Frequentist and Bayesian analyses showed no effect of taVNS (in comparison to sham stimulation) on the root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats, mean inter-beat interval, or spectral power of heart rate variability at a breathing frequency of 0.1 Hz. These findings suggest that expiratory-gated taVNS combined with the stimulation parameters examined here does not produce acute effects on vmHRV during slow breathing.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":47506,"journal":{"name":"Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback","volume":"48 3","pages":"323 - 333"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10484-023-09584-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9973985","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jaume F. Lalanza, Sonia Lorente, Raimon Bullich, Carlos García, Josep-Maria Losilla, Lluis Capdevila
{"title":"Methods for Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback (HRVB): A Systematic Review and Guidelines","authors":"Jaume F. Lalanza, Sonia Lorente, Raimon Bullich, Carlos García, Josep-Maria Losilla, Lluis Capdevila","doi":"10.1007/s10484-023-09582-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10484-023-09582-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback (HRVB) has been widely used to improve cardiovascular health and well-being. HRVB is based on breathing at an individual’s resonance frequency, which stimulates respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and the baroreflex. There is, however, no methodological consensus on how to apply HRVB, while details about the protocol used are often not well reported. Thus, the objectives of this systematic review are to describe the different HRVB protocols and detect methodological concerns. PsycINFO, CINALH, Medline and Web of Science were searched between 2000 and April 2021. Data extraction and quality assessment were based on PRISMA guidelines. A total of 143 studies were finally included from any scientific field and any type of sample. Three protocols for HRVB were found: (i) “Optimal RF” (<i>n</i> = 37), each participant breathes at their previously detected RF; (ii) “Individual RF” (<i>n</i> = 48), each participant follows a biofeedback device that shows the optimal breathing rate based on cardiovascular data in real time, and (iii) “Preset-pace RF” (<i>n</i> = 51), all participants breathe at the same rate rate, usually 6 breaths/minute. In addition, we found several methodological differences for applying HRVB in terms of number of weeks, duration of breathing or combination of laboratory and home sessions. Remarkably, almost 2/3 of the studies did not report enough information to replicate the HRVB protocol in terms of breathing duration, inhalation/exhalation ratio, breathing control or body position. Methodological guidelines and a checklist are proposed to enhance the methodological quality of future HRVB studies and increase the information reported.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":47506,"journal":{"name":"Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback","volume":"48 3","pages":"275 - 297"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10484-023-09582-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9967480","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hannah R. Brinkman, Danielle L. Hoyt, Erick J. Fedorenko, Wendy Berry Mendes, Teresa M. Leyro
{"title":"Cardiac Vagal Control Among Community Cigarette Smokers with Low to Moderate Depressive Symptoms","authors":"Hannah R. Brinkman, Danielle L. Hoyt, Erick J. Fedorenko, Wendy Berry Mendes, Teresa M. Leyro","doi":"10.1007/s10484-023-09580-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10484-023-09580-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Impairments in cardiac vagal control (CVC) have been independently linked to smoking status and depression and are implicated in self-regulatory processes that may exacerbate depressive symptoms and maintain smoking behavior. Yet, few studies have examined how depressive symptoms, even at low levels, influence CVC reactivity among individuals who smoke. Investigating these relationships may provide novel insights into how depressive symptoms exacerbate existing regulatory vulnerabilities among smokers. This study investigated how depression symptoms affect CVC reactivity as a function of changing situational demands among a community sample of 60 daily adult cigarette smokers. Participants completed a mildly demanding cognitive task while physiological data was recorded. Growth curve modeling was used to examine the main and interactive effects of self-reported depressive symptoms on CVC reactivity over the course of the task. We hypothesized that greater depressive symptoms would be associated with less CVC reactivity, characterized by smaller initial reductions in CVC values and a flatter slope over time. Participants were daily smokers with mild to moderate levels of depression. Final model results, where time was specified as linear and the slope was fixed, showed no significant main or interactive effects of time and depression symptoms on CVC reactivity. Findings suggest that at low to moderate levels, depressive symptom severity is not related to patterns of CVC reactivity among adults who smoke. This is the first study to examine this relationship in this population. Future investigations that examine patterns of CVC reactivity among smokers and non-smokers with more severe depression are needed.\u0000</p></div>","PeriodicalId":47506,"journal":{"name":"Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback","volume":"48 2","pages":"159 - 169"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10484-023-09580-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9501069","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Christine Cho, Hyun Joo Yoo, Jungwon Min, Kaoru Nashiro, Julian F. Thayer, Paul M. Lehrer, Mara Mather
{"title":"Changes in Medial Prefrontal Cortex Mediate Effects of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback on Positive Emotional Memory Biases","authors":"Christine Cho, Hyun Joo Yoo, Jungwon Min, Kaoru Nashiro, Julian F. Thayer, Paul M. Lehrer, Mara Mather","doi":"10.1007/s10484-023-09579-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10484-023-09579-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Previous research suggests that implicit automatic emotion regulation relies on the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). However, most of the human studies supporting this hypothesis have been correlational in nature. In the current study, we examine how changes in mPFC-left amygdala functional connectivity relate to emotional memory biases. In a randomized clinical trial examining the effects of heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback on brain mechanisms of emotion regulation, we randomly assigned participants to increase or decrease heart rate oscillations while receiving biofeedback. After several weeks of daily biofeedback sessions, younger and older participants completed an emotional picture memory task involving encoding, recall, and recognition phases as an additional measure in this clinical trial. Participants assigned to increase HRV (Osc+) (<i>n</i> = 84) showed a relatively higher rate of false alarms for positive than negative images than participants assigned to decrease HRV (Osc−) (<i>n</i> = 81). Osc+ participants also recalled relatively more positive compared with negative items than Osc− participants, but this difference was not significant. However, a summary bias score reflecting positive emotional memory bias across recall and recognition was significantly higher in the Osc+ than Osc− condition. As previously reported, the Osc+ manipulation increased left amygdala-mPFC resting-state functional connectivity significantly more than the Osc− manipulation. This increased functional connectivity significantly mediated the effects of the Osc+ condition on emotional bias. These findings suggest that, by increasing mPFC coordination of emotion-related circuits, daily practice increasing heart rate oscillations can increase implicit emotion regulation.\u0000</p></div>","PeriodicalId":47506,"journal":{"name":"Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback","volume":"48 2","pages":"135 - 147"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10484-023-09579-1.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9502413","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}