Respiratory sinus arrhythmia and cognitive functioning in children

Staton, Lori; El‐Sheikh, Mona; Buckhalt, Joseph A.

doi:10.1002/dev.20361

Cited by 87Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic ControlNeuroscience of respiration and sleepCognitive Abilities and Testing

Respiratory sinus arrhythmia and cognitive functioning in children

Staton, Lori, El‐Sheikh, Mona, Buckhalt, Joseph A.·2009·Developmental Psychobiology

DOI 10.1002/dev.20361

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Abstract

We examined associations between children's cognitive performance and both basal respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and RSA regulation to a reaction time task. Cognitive performance was examined in the lab via standardized tests of cognitive functioning (Woodcock–Johnson III) and a reaction time task. Results suggest that a higher level of basal RSA is predictive of better performance on WJ III scales examining fluid intelligence (e.g., working memory, cognitive efficiency). RSA reactivity was not significantly related to cognitive performance. Results build on and extend the literature by demonstrating that, in typically developing elementary school age children, RSA is related to well‐standardized measures of cognitive performance even after controlling for potential confounds. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 51: 249–258, 2009

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From The Adaptive Calibration Model of stress responsivity (2011) · cites this paper as Staton et al., 2009
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From The Adaptive Calibration Model of stress responsivity (2011) · cites this paper as Staton et al., 2009

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Authors: Staton, L., El‐Sheikh, M., & Buckhalt, J. A.
Affiliations: Auburn University (US)
Corresponding author: El‐Sheikh, Mona
ORCID: El‐Sheikh, Mona
Buckhalt, Joseph A.
Venue: Developmental Psychobiology
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2008-12-23
Volume: 51
Issue: 3
Pages: 249-258
ISSN: 0012-1630 (ISSN-L)
1098-2302
DOI: 10.1002/dev.20361
OpenAlex: W2111856261
Cited by: 87
References: 47
Citations by year: 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 8
FWCI: 2.43
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations: Developmental Psychobiology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroscience of respiration and sleep
Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
Keywords: respiratory sinus arrhythmia, cognitive function, children, fluid intelligence, working memory, cognitive efficiency, reaction time, elementary school students, autonomic nervous system
MeSH terms: Adolescent, Algorithms, Arrhythmia, Sinus, Attention, Child, Cognition, Electrocardiography, Female, Heart, Humans, Intelligence, Male, Memory, Short-Term, Neuropsychological Tests, Pilot Projects, Problem Solving, Psychometrics, Reaction Time, Reference Values, Respiration, Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted, Vagus Nerve

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Respiratory sinus arrhythmia and cognitive functioning in children

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