Effects of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback on EEG Alpha Asymmetry and Anxiety Symptoms in Male Athletes: A Pilot Study
Abstract
Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV-BFB) has been shown as useful tool to manage stress in various populations. The present study was designed to investigate whether the biofeedback-based stress management tool consisting of rhythmic breathing, actively self-generated positive emotions and a portable biofeedback device induce changes in athletes' HRV, EEG patterns, and self-reported anxiety and self-esteem. The study involved 41 healthy male athletes, aged 16-21 (mean 18.34 ± 1.36) years. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: biofeedback and control. Athletes in the biofeedback group received HRV biofeedback training, athletes in the control group didn't receive any intervention. During the randomized controlled trial (days 0-21), the mean anxiety score declined significantly for the intervention group (change-4 p < 0.001) but not for the control group (p = 0.817). In addition, as compared to the control, athletes in biofeedback group showed substantial and statistically significant improvement in heart rate variability indices and changes in power spectra of both theta and alpha brain waves, and alpha asymmetry. These changes suggest better self-control in the central nervous system and better flexibility of the autonomic nervous system in the group that received biofeedback training. A HRV biofeedback-based stress management tool may be beneficial for stress reduction for young male athletes.
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Previous studies on frontal EEG asymmetry typically used symmetric electrode pairs to assess frontal asymmetry, with some relying on only one pair of electrodes.
“Previous studies on frontal EEG asymmetry typically used symmetric electrode pairs to assess frontal asymmetry (Isbel et al., 2019;Ng et al., 2023), with some relying on only one pair of electrodes (Dziembowska et al., 2016;Telles et al., 2017;Zhou & Liu, 2016).”
From Frontal Electroencephalography Asymmetry and Desynchronized Functional Connectivity Associated with Long-Term and Short-Term Breathing Training (2026) · cites this paper as Dziembowska et al., 2016
Low frequency spectral power increased in breathing training practitioners.
“The results of breath counting aligned with the previous studies that low frequency spectral power increased in the breathing training practitioners (Dziembowska et al., 2016;Isbel et al., 2019;Telles et al., 2017)”
From Frontal Electroencephalography Asymmetry and Desynchronized Functional Connectivity Associated with Long-Term and Short-Term Breathing Training (2026) · cites this paper as Dziembowska et al., 2016
The authors did not observe alpha power asymmetry as previously reported.
“We did not observe alpha power asymmetry as previously reported (Dziembowska et al., 2016;Telles et al., 2017).”
From Frontal Electroencephalography Asymmetry and Desynchronized Functional Connectivity Associated with Long-Term and Short-Term Breathing Training (2026) · cites this paper as Dziembowska et al., 2016
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References 60 · Cited by 181
- Authors
- Dziembowska, I., Izdebski, P., Rasmus, A., Brudny, J., Grzelczak, M., & Cysewski, P.
- Affiliations
- Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz (PL)
- University of Economy in Bydgoszcz (PL)
- Nicolaus Copernicus University (PL)
- Corresponding author
- Izdebski, Paweł
- Venue
- Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback
- Published
- 2015-10-12
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 141-150
- ISSN
- 0363-3586 (ISSN-L)
- 1090-0586
- 1573-3270
- OpenAlex
- W2171082341
- Cited by
- 181
- References
- 60
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 100 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 4
- FWCI
- 4.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Head of Institute of Psychology, Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, Poland (1)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Sport Psychology and Performance
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Vagus Nerve Stimulation Research
- Keywords
- heart rate variability biofeedback, EEG alpha asymmetry, anxiety symptoms, male athletes, stress management, rhythmic breathing, self-esteem, youth athletes
- MeSH terms
- Self-Control, Adolescent, Adult, Alpha Rhythm, Anxiety, Biofeedback, Psychology, Heart Rate, Humans, Male, Pilot Projects, Stress, Psychological, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Young Adult, Athletes
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