Resting-state heart rate variability after stressful events as a measure of stress tolerance among elite performers

Abstract

Introduction: A common trait of elite performers is their ability to perform well when stressed by strong emotions such as fear. Developing objective measures of stress response that reliably predict performance under stress could have far-reaching implications in selection and training of elite individuals and teams. Prior data suggests that (i) Heart rate and heart rate variability (HR/HRV) are associated with stress reaction, (ii) Higher basal sympathetic tone prior to stressful events is associated with higher performance, and (iii) Elite performers tend to exhibit greater increase in parasympathetic tone after a stressful event.Methods: The current study assesses the predictive utility of post-stressful event HR/HRV measures, an under-studied time point in HR/HRV research, in the context of military personnel selection. Specifically, we examined the relationship between a comprehensive set of HR/HRV measures and established questionnaires related to stress tolerance, experimental evaluation of executive function during stress induction, and ecologically valid selection assessment data from a week-long Special Operations Forces selection course (N = 30).Results: We found that post-stressful event HR/HRV measures generally had strong correlations with the neuroticism facet of the NEO personality inventory as well as the general and distress facets of the defensive reactivity questionnaire. HR/HRV measures correlated reliably with a change in executive function measured as a decrease in verbal fluency with exposure to a well-validated stressor. Finally, we observed a divergent pattern of correlation among elite and non-elite SOF candidates. Specifically, among elite candidates, parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) measures correlated positively and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) measures correlated negatively with evaluation of stress tolerance by experts and peers. This pattern was not present in non-elite candidates.Discussion: Our findings demonstrate that post-stressful event HR/HRV data provide an objective non-invasive method to measure the recovery and arousal state in direct reaction to the stressful event and can be used as metrics of stress tolerance that could enhance selection of elite individuals and teams.

Relations between daily stressful events, exertion, heart rate variability and thoracolumbar fascia deformability: An integrative single-case study on a sport climber

“…Heart rate variability is often used in sports to monitor and optimize training (Schaffarczyk et al 2022; Miyatsu et al 2023;Cintineo et al 2024). It is considered a biomarker that re ects the activity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS).…”

“…The TLF could act here as a supporting structure for the back muscles and contribute to their performance (Bojairami and Driscoll 2022;Brandl et al 2023b). This relationship is thought to be highly dynamic and the HRV and/or tissue response to a stressor may not be immediate but delayed (Miyatsu et al 2023). Therefore, an n-of-one study focusing on a single athlete in a speci c time period provides better insights into the intricate dynamics of complex biopsychosocial responses than a randomized controlled trial with a selective focus on the characteristics of a speci c sample (Nikles et al 2022).…”

“…LF showed the best goodness-of-t index and could explain 50% of the variance in the LM. In the literature, LF is described as one of the HRV parameters that probably best re ects SNS activity(Tarvainen et al 2014;Pham et al 2021;Miyatsu et al 2023). However, it is also in uenced by the PNS (see limitations section for a detailed discussion).…”