Physiological Resonance in Empathic Stress: Insights from Nonlinear Dynamics of Heart Rate Variability

Abstract

Because most humans live and work in populated environments, researchers recently took into account that people may not only experience first-hand stress, but also second-hand stress related to the ability to empathically share another person’s stress response. Recently, researchers have begun to more closely examine the existence of such empathic stress and highlighted the human propensity to physiologically resonate with the stress responses of others. As in case of first-hand stress, empathic stress could be deleterious for health if people experience exacerbated activation of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal and autonomic nervous systems. Thus, exploring empathic stress in an observer watching someone else experiencing stress is critical to gain a better understanding of physiological resonance and conduct strategies for health prevention. In the current study, we investigated the influence of empathic stress responses on heart rate variability (HRV) with a specific focus on nonlinear dynamics. Classic and nonlinear markers of HRV time series were computed in both targets and observers during a modified Trier social stress test (TSST). We capitalized on multiscale entropy, a reliable marker of complexity for depicting neurovisceral interactions (brain-to-heart and heart-to-brain) and their role in physiological resonance. State anxiety and affect were evaluated as well. While classic markers of HRV were not impacted by empathic stress, we showed that the complexity marker reflected the existence of empathic stress in observers. More specifically, a linear model highlighted a physiological resonance phenomenon. We conclude on the relevance of entropy in HRV dynamics, as a marker of complexity in neurovisceral interactions reflecting physiological resonance in empathic stress.

Degraded Psychophysiological Status in Caregivers and Human Resources Staff during a COVID-19 Peak Unveiled by Psychological and HRV Testing at Workplace

“…In the same vein, anxiety and RCMSE covaried in workers self-reporting stress at work [50]. Entropy assessed by RCMSE was also the most sensitive marker to show stress contamination in dyads [62]. Lastly, when it comes to mobilizing specific executive functions, RCMSE is the most sensitive marker of cognitive-autonomic interactions [52].…”

Obesity, Nutrition and Heart Rate Variability

“…There is a close alliance and communication between brain stem and central autonomic network, with the prefrontal cortex playing a leading role [18]. Direct and indirect pathways involving cingulate and insula cortices, amygdala, hypothalamus, and medulla oblongata link the frontal cortex to autonomic motor circuits responsible for both the excitatory sympathetic and inhibitory parasympathetic effects on the heart [19]. It is conceivable that HRV reflects the overall capacity of the body to deal with on-going requirements for adaptations.…”

Moderate similarity leads to empathic concern, but high similarity can also induce personal distress towards others’ pain

“…On the other hand, insula activation appears to be more closely associated with personal distress than with empathic concern (Saarela et al, 2007 ; Wu et al, 2023 ). Moreover, similarity to an individual in distress can heighten physiological arousal linked to personal distress (Blons et al, 2021 ; Krebs, 1975 ; Stotland, 1969 ), and observing similar others in pain can activate neural affective responses akin to firsthand pain experiences, potentially inducing personal distress rather than empathic concern (Nitschke & Bartz, 2023 ; Weisz & Zaki, 2018 ).…”