Heart rate, heart rate variability and salivary cortisol as indicators of arousal and synchrony in clients with intellectual disability, horses and therapist during equine-assisted interventions

Naber, Anna; Kreuzer, Lena; Zink, Roswitha; Millesi, Eva; Palme, Rüpert; Hediger, Karin; Glenk, Lisa Maria

doi:10.21071/pbs.v0i7.11801

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…This study found that the intervention was associated with short-range functional connectivity in the regions of the brain related to the behavioural inhibition system, which are associated with symptom improvement. In addition, a recent pilot study [34] also reported on heart rate, heart rate variability, and salivary cortisol measurements in both humans and horses and reported reductions in cortisol for human participants post-intervention.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Exploration of the Mechanism of Action of an Equine-Assisted Intervention

Hemingway

Carter

Callaway

et al. 2019

Animals

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Though long alluded to, there is now an accumulation of evidence of the vital contribution that emotion makes to learning. Within this broad advance in understanding is a growing body of research emphasising the embodied nature of this emotion-based learning. The study presented here is a pilot study using a mixed-method approach (combining both physiological and experiential methodologies) to give a picture of the “emotional landscape” of people’s learning through the intervention under study. This has allowed researchers to examine mediating pathways that may underlie any effects of an equine-assisted intervention. This study specifically focuses on examining the role of emotion. The intervention under study was used with young people with chronic mental health and behavioural problems for whom talk-based interventions were not working. Nine healthy participants aged 18–24 undertook the equine intervention, with an initial group having emotion-related psycho-physiological changes (skin conductance responses) measured while viewing their experience on video, and a further two participants experiencing a development of the methodology as their physiological responses were captured in real time during the intervention. The sessions were analysed by a group of five cross-disciplinary researchers to determine when significant learning episodes occurred, and the findings were that this learning was associated with powerful skin conductance responses. The qualitative element of the research entailed the participants watching themselves on video undertaking the equine intervention. They were asked to stop the video and share any changes in emotion at any point while watching. All participants experienced a positive temporal change in mood as the intervention progressed. All results supported the findings that emotional arousal occurred in relation to the participants asking the horse to perform a task. This paper will offer two novel contributions: (1) description of a new methodology for investigating the mechanism of action occurring in this type of intervention and (2) findings from the exploration of the intervention via psycho-physiological and experiential mechanisms.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Exploration of the Mechanism of Action of an Equine-Assisted Intervention

Hemingway

Carter

Callaway

et al. 2019

Animals

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“…In the HP ground phase, most of the physiological parameters decreased in the horses and in the patients, thus reflecting the relaxation of both (horses and patients) in the interaction phase on the ground, which seems to indicate a predominance of the parasympathetic NS, as has been suggested by other authors. Thus, other authors [ 30 ] studied the HR and the cortisol level in patients with intellectual disabilities and in the therapy horses. The parameters were measured at different moments of horse-patient interaction, observing a tendency to decrease both parameters in patients and horses during the cited interaction, which, according to the authors, reflects a decrease in stress by predominance of the parasympathetic NS.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pilot Study of the Influence of Equine Assisted Therapy on Physiological and Behavioral Parameters Related to Welfare of Horses and Patients

Ayala

Carrillo

Iniesta³

et al. 2021

Animals

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Different welfare indicators were studied in three patients with psychomotor alterations and in two horses throughout 9–10 equine assisted therapy sessions in each patient. In horses, heart and respiratory rates, blood pressure, temperature and behavioral signs were studied. In patients, heart rate, oxygen saturation, temperature, sleep quality, psychomotor and emotional parameters were analyzed. Data collection was recorded in the anticipatory phase (15 min before the start of the session), two interaction phases (after 30 min of horse-patient interaction on the ground and on horseback, respectively) and the recovery phase (15 min after the end of the session). During the anticipatory phase, most of physiological parameters of patients and horses and the stress behavioral signs of horses increased, followed by a relaxing phase during the horse-patient interaction on the ground. In horse-patient riding phase the heart and respiratory rates of the horses again increased. These results showed that the horses did not seem to suffer stress attributable to the therapy sessions, but only an increase in their parameters associated with activity and external stimuli. The patients improved their gross and fine motor skills, their cognitive and perceptual-sensitive parameters and it led to an improvement in the life quality of their families.

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“…Similar to attachment, behavioral synchrony (i.e., coordinated behaviors reflecting mutual attunement between interacting individuals [51]) is also rooted in the caregiver-infant bond. Although the findings by Pirrone et al did not reveal any synchronic patterns in the physiological reference markers heart rate or salivary cortisol [13], research in equine-assisted therapy has indicated that synchrony in heart rate varies with the relationship intensity in AAI recipients, horses and therapist [52]. Since cascading levels of stress may decrease synchrony between interacting individuals [53], it is an interesting phenomenon to study in the context of AAIs.…”

Section: Relationshipmentioning

confidence: 96%

Therapy Dog Welfare Revisited: A Review of the Literature

Glenk

Foltin

2021

Veterinary Sciences

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During the past decade, the field of human–animal interaction(s) research has been characterized by a significant increase in scientific findings. These data have contributed to our current understanding of how humans may benefit from contact with animals. However, the animal experience of these interactions is still an under-researched area. This paper addresses the welfare of dogs who participate in animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) to improve health in human recipients. This paper builds on previous work by Glenk (2017) and provides an updated review of the literature on therapy dog welfare published from 2017–2021. New advances in scientific methodology, such as the determination of salivary oxytocin, breath rate and tympanic membrane temperature, are analyzed regarding their value and limitations for research in AAIs. Moreover, welfare-related social and environmental factors (e.g., freedom of choice, exploration of novel environments, inequity aversion, individual development, working experience, relationship with handler and handler skills) that profoundly influence dog perception and well-being are reviewed and discussed. Accounting for the globally increasing interest and the number of dogs utilized in AAIs, safeguarding therapy dog well-being, and identifying situations, circumstances and protocols that may challenge animal welfare remains an emerging and crucial area of scientific effort.

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Heart rate, heart rate variability and salivary cortisol as indicators of arousal and synchrony in clients with intellectual disability, horses and therapist during equine-assisted interventions

Cited by 11 publications

References 6 publications

An Exploration of the Mechanism of Action of an Equine-Assisted Intervention

An Exploration of the Mechanism of Action of an Equine-Assisted Intervention

Pilot Study of the Influence of Equine Assisted Therapy on Physiological and Behavioral Parameters Related to Welfare of Horses and Patients

Therapy Dog Welfare Revisited: A Review of the Literature

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