Autonomic Response to Tactical Pistol Performance Measured by Heart Rate Variability

Abstract

This study evaluated changes in autonomic tone during a tactical pistol competition. At rest and during a match, heart rate variability (HRV) was examined in 28 healthy subjects. Heart rate variability time-domain variables (including interbeat interval [IBI]) and frequency-domain variables (low frequency [LF], high frequency [HF], total power [TP]) measured during shooting were subtracted from those measured during rest to produce Δs. The shooting task involved several, rapid tactical maneuvers. Raw time to completion and inaccurate shots (points down [PDs]) were recorded and combined to form a match score where lower values indicated superior shooting performance. Mean (±SD) raw time was 135.9 ± 34.1 seconds, PDs were 78 ± 34, and match score was 175.3 ± 39.8. Shooting decreased IBI (i.e., increased heart rate) and LF. ΔLF, ΔHF, and ΔTP were independent of ΔIBI. Raw time was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) correlated to shooting IBI (r = 0.404) and ΔIBI (r = -0.426). Points down were significantly correlated to ΔTP (r = 0.416) and ΔLF (r = 0.376). Match score was significantly correlated to ΔIBI (r = -0.458), ΔHF (r = 0.467), ΔLF (r = 0.377), and ΔTP (r = 0.451). In conclusion, individuals with a greater decrease in IBI (and thus heart rate) performed better by accomplishing the match faster. Individuals with less change in stress-related HRV measures (LF, HF, and TP) performed better through improved accuracy. Thus, HRV-derived sympathetic response is significantly related to shooting performance and should be used to assess marksmanship effectiveness under duress.

The contribution of coping related variables and cardiac vagal activity on the performance of a dart throwing task under pressure

“…Some of the CRV of interest have been shown to effect psychomotor performance under pressure, namely cardiac vagal activity, challenge appraisals and reinvestment. Cardiac vagal activity promoted faster shooting in a police stimulation (Thompson et al, 2015) and more effective attention strategies in a navigation simulation task (Saus et al, 2012). Challenge appraisal improved golf putting performance (Moore et al 2015) and movement reinvestment caused performance decrements in dart-throwing (Weiss 2011).…”

The Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training vs. Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training on Heart Rate Variability in Physically Inactive Adults

“…Actiwave Cardio monitor (CamNtech, Cambridge, UK), which traces the electrocardiogram (ECG), was used to measure the HRV variables. The device has been used for HRV study and the validation has been approved in a previous study [ 19 , 20 ]. Subjects visited the laboratory in the morning between 8:00 am to 9:00 am.…”

Can biofeedback training of psychophysiological responses enhance athletes’ sport performance? A practitioner’s perspective

“…This effect became more evident during the 10 weeks of HRV BFB training [24]. Thomson and his colleagues concluded that HRV biofeedback training is effective and that HRV-derived sympathetic response is significantly tied to sport performance -in their case, in shooting performance [25].…”