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Rhythmic Stimulation of the Arterial Baroreflex for Conscious Control of HRV: A Potential Therapeutic Approach for Chronic Stress Alleviation through Visual and Acoustic Emotional Cues
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  • Antoni Castells Delgado,
  • Mahtab Mahtab Mohammadpoor Faskhodi,
  • Mireya Fernández Chimeno,
  • Miquel A. García-González
Antoni Castells Delgado
Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya

Corresponding Author:antoni.castells.delgado@upc.edu

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Mahtab Mahtab Mohammadpoor Faskhodi
Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya
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Mireya Fernández Chimeno
Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya
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Miquel A. García-González
Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya
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Abstract

This study examines the effectiveness of Rhythmic Acoustic Emotional Stimulation (RAES) in modulating Heart Rate Variability (HRV) compared to Rhythmic Visual Emotional Stimulation (RVES) at the resonant frequency of the arterial baroreflex (0.1 Hz). HRV is a reliable indicator of chronic stress, and its optimization holds potential therapeutic benefits for stress reduction. RVES, pioneered by Evgeny Vaschillo in 2008, utilizes emotionally charged images to induce high-amplitude HRV oscillations. This research aims to determine whether RAES, employing sounds of equivalent emotional valence, can achieve similar HRV enhancements. A cohort of 30 participants underwent a series of experiments involving both RVES and RAES protocols. Vaschillo’s RVES protocol was replicated using visual stimuli to establish baseline effectiveness, followed by RAES experiments using acoustic stimuli of comparable emotional valence. Respiration and heart rate were monitored, with baseline HRV measurements taken before and after each intervention to evaluate their effects. Results showed significant differences in how participants responded to the two interventions. During RVES, SDNN showed significant variability across stimuli (p=0.018p = 0.018p=0.018), indicating its effectiveness in enhancing overall HRV, while RMSSD changes were not statistically significant. RAES elicited a significant interaction between RMSSD and sex (p=0.003p = 0.003p=0.003), with females demonstrating more pronounced RMSSD responses compared to males. However, SDNN responses to RAES were minimal and consistent across stimuli and sexes. In conclusion, RVES appears more effective than RAES in enhancing HRV, particularly in terms of SDNN variability. The significant sex-based interaction in RAES highlights its potential for tailored stress reduction therapies, especially for female populations. These findings emphasize the importance of considering gender-specific responses and individual variability when designing HRV-based interventions.
11 Dec 2024Submitted to Psychophysiology
11 Dec 2024Submission Checks Completed
11 Dec 2024Assigned to Editor
11 Dec 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
20 Dec 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned