Abstract
The present study examined the relationship between the nature of feedback, especially the type and frequency, and its effectiveness in controlling HR, when Ss controlled their respiration rate and used cognitive strategies. Thirty-six female undergraduates were randomly assigned to one of four feedback conditions, constituted by two factors, i.e., the type and frequency of feedback. Ss engaged in both tasks of increasing and decreasing HR under each condition. Results indicated Ss could increase and decrease HR by biofeedback even when their respiration rate was controlled. However, the amount of changes acquired in the increasing and decreasing tasks was not different. This may occurred because the performance in the increasing task became poor as the effect of respiration rate cotrol. As to the type of feedback, proportional feedback was superior to binary one in the increasing task, while no difference was found in the decreasing task. As to the frequency, no difference was found between the conditions of once per a second and per five seconds, which was different from the findings of Gatchel (1974) in the increasing task. This seems to be caused by the difference of definitions of freguency between the two studies. Heart rate rapidly increased in the early stage and decreased to a certain level higher than the rest period, which was maintained throughout the remaining sessions in the increasing task. While, HR decreased to a lower level than the rest period in the early stage, which was maintained thereafter in the decreasing task. It is suggested respiration rate control inhibited gradual increase of HR and weakening of effectiveness of cognitive strategies caused the decrease just after the rapid increase of HR in the increasing task. When succeeded in the increasing task, Ss tended to be subjectively less relaxed, while even succeeded in the decreasing task, Ss did not necessarily tend to be more relaxed. Respiration rate control seems to have made Ss tense or annoyed even in the decreasing task. Much consideration is necessary to eliminate these kinds of phenomena to acquire more refined data in the future studies.
