The Impact of Resonance Frequency Breathing on Measures of Heart Rate Variability, Blood Pressure, and Mood

Abstract

Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) significantly improves heart rate variability (HRV). Breathing at resonance frequency (RF, approximately 6 breaths/min) constitutes a key part of HRVB training and is hypothesized to be a pathway through which biofeedback improves HRV. No studies to date, however, have experimentally examined whether RF breathing impacts measures of HRV. The present study addressed this question by comparing three groups: the RF group breathed at their determined RF for 15 min; the RF + 1 group breathed at 1 breath/min higher than their determined RF for 15 min; and the third group sat quietly for 15 min. After this 15-min period, all groups participated in the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT) for 8 min, and then sat quietly during a 10-min recovery period. HRV, blood pressure, and mood were measured throughout the experiment. Groups were not significantly different on any of the measures at baseline. After the breathing exercise, the RF group reported higher positive mood than the other two groups and a significantly higher LF/HF HRV ratio relative to the control group, a key goal in HRVB training (p < 0.05). Additionally, the RF group showed lower systolic blood pressure during the PASAT and during the recovery period relative to the control group, with the RF + 1 group not being significantly different from either group (p < 0.05). Overall, RF breathing appears to play an important role in the positive effect HRVB has on measures of HRV.

The effects of breathing at a frequency of 0.1 Hz on affective state, the cardiovascular system, and adequacy of ventilation

“…Furthermore, we used a breathing frequency of 0.1 Hz for all participants, but the frequency that produces maximal RSA (the so‐called resonance frequency) differs slightly between individuals. A recent study by Steffen et al () showed that breathing at resonance frequency produced a larger improvement in positive mood than breathing at a respiratory rate higher by one breath per minute. Therefore, future studies might determine the participants’ individual resonance frequencies and thus maximize RSA instead of using the same frequency for all participants.…”

“…Van Diest et al () reported that participants had lower affective arousal after breathing at 0.1 Hz in comparison to 0.2 Hz. Recently, Steffen, Austin, DeBarros, and Brown () reported no effect on anxious arousal but increased positive mood. Thus, research has shown that breathing at 0.1 Hz may modulate affective state.…”

An investigation on the influence of yogic methods on heart rate variability

“…It is obvious that low-frequency breathing has caused the LF power to increase in YG, PBG than NBG. In a physiological perspective, it is well known that the increase in RSA would exert a favorable impact on pulmonary gas exchange by keeping tidal volume or the breathing frequency constant (Cysarz & Bussing, 2005;Hayano & Yasuma, 2003;Hirsch & Bishop, 1981;Steffen et al, 2017;Tripathi, 2004). Statistically significant increase in TINN, SDNN, and TSD2 of YG, PBG-3 cpm, and PBG-7 cpm as compared to NBG mark a higher variability in heart rate that could be expected for a healthy heart (Shaffer & Ginsberg, 2017).…”

“…get influenced either in an inhibitory or excitatory way by behavioral reflexes of central nervous system (CNS) (Shea, 1996). The susceptibility of the cardiac autonomic controls to external rhythms has been studied by some researchers (Charnock & Manenica, 1978;Steffen et al, 2017). By minimizing or subduing other behavioral influences the self sustained neural pacemaker at the brain stem might have competed to favor a regular respiratory rhythm (Shea, 1996).…”

“…A study (Cysarz & Bussing, 2005) has reported that when RSA (or the parasympathetic dominance) could be created at will by breathing exercises (like in biofeedback training), the physiological impacts exerted by yoga could also be attained intermittently even by inexperienced subjects without a need for a special long-term training. Studies which exclusively highlight the underlying mechanisms which exert significant variations in HRV with experimental validations have been only sparingly discussed (Steffen, Austin, DeBarros, & Brown, 2017). However, the exact mode of control of breathing in yogic methods is not clear to classify them as a volitional or a behavioral control.…”