Autogenous control of heart rate taking Deep Slow Breaths during exercise

Abstract

We investigated whether heart rate can be controlled consciously. This study examined the effect of 20 minutes of cycling exercise while being conscious about energy conservation on the heart rate. 21 healthy college students (9 men, 12 women) participated three exercise bouts. Exercise bouts were examined under the following three conditions: (a) known condition (participants having information about the exercise duration); (b) unknown condition (participants having no information about the exercise duration) and; (c) conserving energy condition (participants having information about the exercise duration and being conscious about energy conservation). Heart rate in the unknown condition was lower than that in the known condition (p < 0.05); further, it was lower in the conserving energy condition than in the known condition　(p < 0.01). In contrast, the tidal volume of the conserving energy condition was higher than that in the known condition (p < 0.05). In addition, the respiratory rates in the unknown and conserving energy conditions were lower than that in the known condition (p < 0.01). Energy expenditure during exercise was lowest in the conserving energy condition. These results show the possibility of autogenous control of heart rate by taking deep slow breaths consciously during exercise.