View clinical trials related to Heart Rate Variability.
Filter by:This study will be conducted by using two devices (Apollo and Biostrap) for monitoring of baseline physiologic variables and heart rate variability. The biostrap will be worn by residents and will monitor heart rate, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, sleep patterns, steps, etc. The Apollo is a pulse generator device aimed at modulating heart rate variability for (hopefully) reduction in stress and improving performance in and around the hospital. Resident neurosurgeons will wear the biostrap for a two week cycle and follow that with the addition of the Apollo device for heart rate variability modulation.
Previous research suggests that heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback aimed at increasing HRV can reduce anxiety and stress. However, some mental quiescence practices that reduce HRV during the practice sessions also lead to positive emotional outcomes. Thus, it is not obvious that the benefits of HRV-biofeedback accrue due to increasing HRV during the session. An alternative possibility is that the benefits arise from engaging prefrontal control over heart rate. In this study, the investigators will test two possible mechanisms of the effects of HRV on emotional health by comparing two groups. In one group, participants will be asked to engage in daily training to decrease HRV using the HRV biofeedback device. In the other group, participants will be asked to engage in daily training to increase HRV using the HRV biofeedback device. This will allow analyses to pit two possible mechanisms against each other: 1. Mechanism 1: engaging prefrontal control over heart rate is the critical factor that allows HRV biofeedback to help improve well-being. In this case, well-being should increase over time in both groups, as both training should engage prefrontal cortex to implement self-directed control over heart rate. Strengthening prefrontal control mechanisms may help improve emotion regulation in everyday life. 2. Mechanism 2: increased HRV during the training sessions leads to greater functional connectivity among brain regions associated with emotion regulation during the high HRV state. In this case, improved well-being would be specifically associated with having time each day during which there were very high HRV states, and so improved well-being should be seen only in the group in which participants get biofeedback to increase HRV.