Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback : A New Tool for Improving Autonomic Homeostasis and Treating Emotional and Psychosomatic Diseases(Special Address in 2002)

抄録

Heart rate variability biofeedback targets the baroreflex system, and thereby helps strengthen one of the body's important self-regulatory reflexes. When people try to increase heart rate variability, they inevitably slow their breathing to about 0.1 Hz, the first resonant frequency of the cardiovascular system. Resonance at that frequency appears to be caused by baroreflex activity. Breathing at this frequency produces very large oscillations in heart rate, entirely at the resonant frequency, and increase baroreflex gain. There is evidence that engaging in this training increases baroreflex gain, improves pulmonary function, improves clinical condition in asthma, and lowers 'blood pressure. The method also may have applications to anxiety, depression, and other disorders related to autonomic dysregulation.