Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback最新文献

The rapid progress of commercial virtual reality (VR) technology, open access to VR development software as well as open-source instructions for creating brain-VR interfaces have increased the number of VR-based neurofeedback (NF) training studies. Controlling a VR environment with brain signals has potential advantages for NF applications. More entertaining, multimodal and adaptive virtual feedback modalities might positively affect subjective user experience and could consequently enhance NF training performance and outcome. Nevertheless, there are certain pitfalls and contraindications that make VR-based NF not suitable for everyone. In the present review, we summarize applications of VR-based NF and discuss positive effects of VR-based NF training as well as contraindications such as cybersickness in VR or age- and sex-related differences. The existing literature implies that VR-based feedback is a promising tool for the improvement of NF training performance. Users generally rate VR-based feedback more positively than traditional 2D feedback, albeit to draw meaningful conclusions and to rule out adverse effects of VR, more research on this topic is necessary. The pace in the development of brain-VR synchronization furthermore necessitates ethical considerations on these technologies.

Resting heart rate variability (HRV) is typically higher in those with better emotional well-being. In the current study, we examined whether changes in resting HRV mediated changes in negative emotions during a 7-week clinical trial of HRV biofeedback. Younger and older adults were randomly assigned to one of two daily biofeedback practices for 5 weeks: (1) engage in slow-paced breathing to increase the amplitude of oscillations in heart rate at their breathing frequency (Osc+); or (2) engage in self-selected strategies to decrease heart rate oscillations (Osc-). We assessed negative emotion using the State Anxiety Inventory (SAI) and Profile of Mood States (POMS). Resting HRV at pre-intervention was significantly higher among those with lower negative emotion scores. Those participants showing greater increases in resting HRV showed greater decreases in negative emotion. In a mediation model with all participants, resting HRV changes significantly mediated the relationship between training performance (i.e., heart rate oscillation during practice sessions) and changes in negative emotion. However, additional analyses revealed this mediation effect was significantly moderated by condition and was only significant in the Osc+ condition. Thus, resting HRV changes mediated how biofeedback to increase amplitude of heart rate oscillations reduced negative emotion.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic affected all types of people, older adults were disproportionately affected. Therefore, we developed an indoor program inspired by art and natural elements (plant essential oils [EOs]) intended to have a relaxing effect akin to a forest atmosphere to enhance psychophysiological health during this period. Thirty Taiwanese older adults (range, 59-79 years) participated in the study. We combined an art activity (still-life painting of vegetables) with the inhalation of Pseudotsuga menziesii and Lavandula angustifolia EOs during a 100-minute experiment. The study showed that physiological measures (heart rate, normalized low-frequency heart variability, the ratio of low- to high-frequency heart variability, high-beta waves, and gamma waves) decreased during the experiment; correspondingly, increased standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals, normalized high-frequency heart variability, and high-alpha waves were observed, indicating relaxed physiological state. Subjective psychological assessments using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State showed lower posttest scores, further supporting the relaxation effects. The psychophysiological data from this study provide important scientific evidence for the physical and mental health benefits of indoor nature-based activity programs for older adults, thereby improving their quality of life.

As a significant component of executive function, goal-directed attentional control is crucial for cognitive processing and is closely linked to frontal-midline theta (FMT) rhythms. However, how up-regulation and down-regulation of FMT through neurofeedback training (NFT) impact goal-directed attention control remains unclear, especially for both short-term and long-lasting effects. Therefore, this study employed a single-blind sham-controlled between-subject design to answer this question. Forty-seven healthy adults were randomly assigned to the up-regulation, down-regulation, or sham control groups. Each group underwent one NFT session per day at the Fz electrode site for four consecutive days. All participants completed a visual search task before, immediately after the first, after the final, and one week following the last NFT session. The down-regulation group significantly reduced FMT activity during NFT and in the resting state (p < = 0.038), while the up-regulation group only showed an upward trend during the training phase (r = 0.721, p = 0.002). The behavioral performance showed no significant improvement in any group (p > 0.05). Importantly, the FMT learning efficacy in the up-regulation group revealed a significantly negative correlation with the change in switch cost (r = -0.602, p = 0.046). These findings suggest a close link between the up-regulation efficacy of FMT rhythms and goal-directed attentional control. In educational or clinical settings, it would be desirable to improve goal-directed attention through enhancement of FMT up-regulation efficacy of NFT in future work.

This paper describes characteristics of sophisticated use of psychophysiological therapy procedures and describes a scoping review of evidence that adding psychophysiological procedures to psychotherapy improves outcome. It also reviews literature describing comparisons between psychophysiological procedures and various CBT and other verbal psychotherapy procedures when used as monotherapies. Some details of progressive muscle relaxation, autogenic training, and biofeedback are described that often are omitted in standard clinical training, including the method of diminishing tensions and differential relaxation training in progressive muscle relaxation, use of autogenic discharges and hypnotic instructions in autogenic training, and resonance frequency training in heart rate variability biofeedback and slow breathing. Although these details are often also missing in outcome studies, tentative conclusions can still be drawn from the empirical literature. As a monotherapy, psychophysiological methods are generally as powerful as verbal psychotherapies, although combining them with psychotherapy yields a larger effect than either approach alone. Psychophysiological methods have their strongest effects on anxiety and depression, with weaker effects for panic and PTSD, particularly when compared with exposure therapy, although the latter comparisons were restricted to relaxation training as a psychophysiological approach. Effects of psychophysiological interventions are weaker among elementary school children than among adults and adolescents. The results suggest that psychophysiological methods should be used along with other psychotherapeutic interventions for greatest effect.

Work-related stress is a major health issue in most industrialized countries. Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV-BfB) can promote resilience and stress coping capacity. Mobile HRV-BfB could contribute to stress prevention in the workplace. Little is known about whether the type of training, with digital or live instruction, has an impact on the training outcome. This study analyzes the psychophysiological effects of four-week workplace resilience training with mobile HRV-BfB and the influence of instruction format (digital or live) on training success. This was a prospective, three-arm, non-randomized controlled trial with parallel group design. 73 employees of a bearing and seal manufacturer (58.9% male, 86.3% full-time employment, 67.1% office workers) attended resilience training with HRV-BfB, live (n = 24) or digital (n = 19) format, or served as waitlist controls (n = 30). HRV-BfB training spanned four weeks. Participants applied resilience techniques to increase HRV using visual biofeedback. Data were collected at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1), and another four weeks later (T2). Primary outcome measure was the Burnout scale of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ) at T1. Secondary outcome measures included further COPSOQ scales, self-reported sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI), and HRV parameters. Burnout parameters decreased significantly in HRV-BfB and waitlist. The decrease (T0-T1 and T0-T2) showed higher effect sizes in HRV-BfB (Cohen's d: 0.63; 0.69) than in waitlist (d: 0.27; 0.36). Sleep quality improved in HRV-BfB with small effect sizes (no change for waitlist). SDNN (standard deviation of beat-to-beat intervals) increased in HRV-BfB between T0 and T1 (d: 0.23;). In subgroup analysis, digital reached higher effect sizes for improvement in burnout (d: 0.87; 0.92) and sleep quality (d: 0.59; 0.64) than live learning (burnout: d: 0.43; 0.51; sleep quality: d: 0.28; 0.22). HRV-analysis revealed no differences between subgroups. Four-week mobile HRV-BfB resilience training reduced stress and burnout symptoms in employees. No significant differences were found between HRV-BfB digital or live. Hence, companies should choose the approach that fits their company profile or, if possible, offer both formats to accommodate the different needs of employees. However, findings were nonhomogeneous and should be verified by further studies.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT04897165, 05/18/2021, retrospectively registered.

High heart rate variability (HRV) is increasingly recognized as an indicator of a healthy regulatory system, reflecting the dynamic balance between sympathetic (SNS) and parasympathetic (PSNS) nervous system activity. According to the neurovisceral integration model, this balance is managed by the central autonomic network (CAN), comprised of specific brain regions involved in emotional, attentional, and autonomic regulation. HRV thus reflects the performance of the cognitive, affective, and autonomic regulation system. Numerous studies support the relationship between HRV and the CAN, including research on HRV biofeedback training (HRVBF). Studies on the effectiveness of HRVBF for professions such as police officers have shown improvements in self-regulation, decision-making, and performance. However, few studies have specifically explored HRVBF's influence on HRV metrics in police officers, highlighting a need for further research. This study addresses this gap by randomly assigning 27 Icelandic police officers to intervention or wait-list control groups. The intervention group underwent a five-week HRVBF program, including group and individual training sessions. Results showed significant increases in HRV metrics for the intervention group, indicating improved autonomic function and stress resilience. Mental resilience increased significantly as measured by subjective measures of attentional control, mindful awareness, and reduced fatigue. These findings support the efficacy of HRVBF in enhancing HRV and mental resilience for police officers, suggesting its applicability and potential for integration into existing training programs.

In type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), decreased autonomic activation and heightened negative emotions may worsen glycemic control. This study investigated the effects of heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) on autonomic activation, negative emotions, diabetes self-care, and glycemic control in patients with T2DM. A total of 61 participants with T2DM were assigned to either the HRVB group (n = 30; 62.67 ± 7.28 years; 14 females) or the control group (n = 31; 63.39 ± 6.96 years; 14 females). Both groups received the treatment as usual, and the HRVB group received 60 min of HRVB sessions weekly for 6 weeks. Participants completed psychological questionnaires, a resting electrocardiogram (ECG), and breathing rate assessments at pre- and post-tests. Heart rate variability (HRV) indices were derived from ECG data, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were collected from the electronic medical records. The analysis revealed significant Group × Time interaction effects on HRV indices, breathing rate, depression symptoms, and diabetes self-care behavior. The HRVB group demonstrated higher HRV indices, lower breathing rate, and improved diabetes self-care behavior compared to the control group. Moreover, the HRVB group showed enhanced HRV indices and diabetes self-care behavior, as well as reduced breathing rate and depression in the post-test compared to the pre-test. However, there was no significant interaction effect on HbA1c levels. Six sessions of HRVB proved effective as a complementary therapy for T2DM, enhancing HRV indices, alleviating depressive symptoms, and promoting better diabetes self-care behaviors.

It is known that economic problems can cause psychological stress, and that psychological stress causes physiological changes often linked to disease. Here we report a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on physiological effects of psychological treatment for individuals with economic problems. Of 5071 papers in our initial PsycInfo search, we identified 16 papers on physiological effects for psychological treatment of the economically stressed. We found 11 controlled studies, among which we found a small to moderate significant effect size, Hedges' g = 0.319, p < 0.001. The largest effect sizes were found for heart rate variability and measures of inflammation, and the smallest for measures involving cortisol. The studies were all on chronically poor populations, thus restricting generalization to other financially stressed populations such as students, athletes in training, and those stressed by relative deprivation compared with neighbors or other reference groups. None of the studies examined effects of these psychophysiological changes on disease susceptibility, and none included elements of financial planning. The nascent field of financial psychophysiology calls for more research in these areas. Even so, results suggest that financially stressed people can benefit physiologically from psychological stress management methods.