Inhalation/Exhalation ratio modulates the effect of slow breathing on heart rate variability and relaxation.
Open accessAbstract
Slow breathing is widely applied to improve symptoms of hyperarousal, but it is unknown whether its beneficial effects relate to the reduction in respiration rate per se, or, to a lower inhalation/exhalation (i/e) ratio. The present study examined the effects of four ventilatory patterns on heart rate variability and self-reported dimensions of relaxation. Thirty participants were instructed to breathe at 6 or 12 breaths/min, and with an i/e ratio of 0.42 or 2.33. Participants reported increased relaxation, stress reduction, mindfulness and positive energy when breathing with the low compared to the high i/e ratio. A lower compared to a higher respiration rate was associated only with an increased score on positive energy. A low i/e ratio was also associated with more power in the high frequency component of heart rate variability, but only for the slow breathing pattern. Our results show that i/e ratio is an important modulator for the autonomic and subjective effects of instructed ventilatory patterns.
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5 min of DSB efficiently increases parasympathetic activity, as assessed by HF power, and decreases perceived anxiety level among young adults.
“Accordingly, 5 min of DSB efficiently increases parasympathetic activity, as assessed by HF power (i.e., % of HF in the total HRV power) and decreased perceived anxiety level among young adults33–35.”
From Benefits from one session of deep and slow breathing on vagal tone and anxiety in young and older adults (2021) · cites this paper as [35]
The Results (Additional information; page not given) report that HF-HRV was significantly lower at 6 than at 12 breaths per minute, contrary to the claimed increase assessed by HF power. The Self-reported relaxation and affect section reports lower arousal at the slower rate, but the study did not measure perceived anxiety directly; it also measured HF-HRV as log-transformed high-frequency power, not as a percentage of total HRV power. (LLM, conf=0.88)
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References 65 · Cited by 249
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- [51]51. Taylor, S. (2001). Breathing retraining in the treatment of panic disorder: Efficacy, caveats 24 and indications. Scandinavian Journal of Behaviour Therapy, 30(2), 49-56.
- Authors
- Van Diest, I., Verstappen, K., Aubert, A. E., Widjaja, D., Vansteenwegen, D., & Vlemincx, E.
- Affiliations
- KU Leuven (BE)
- iMinds (BE)
- Venue
- Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback
- Published
- 2014-08-26
- Volume
- 39
- Issue
- 3-4
- Pages
- 171-180
- ISSN
- 0363-3586 (ISSN-L)
- 1090-0586
- 1573-3270
- OpenAlex
- W2064424477
- Semantic Scholar
- 58fbfbe3cadcc01754f8a764b6311841810bf415
- Cited by
- 249
- References
- 65
- Citations by year
- 2026: 22 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 30 · 2021: 36 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 3.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- lirias.kuleuven.be
- Licence
- other-oa
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Lirias (KU Leuven) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
- Vlaamse regering
- 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 › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Keywords
- slow-paced breathing, heart rate variability, relaxation, respiration rate, ventilatory pattern, mindfulness, positive energy, stress reduction, hyperarousal, autonomic nervous system, high-frequency power
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Inhalation, Female, Heart Rate, Humans, Male, Relaxation, Exhalation, Young Adult, Respiratory Rate, Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia
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