Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Increases Baroreflex Gain and Peak Expiratory Flow
Abstract
Objective We evaluated heart rate variability biofeedback as a method for increasing vagal baroreflex gain and improving pulmonary function among 54 healthy adults. Methods We compared 10 sessions of biofeedback training with an uninstructed control. Cognitive and physiological effects were measured in four of the sessions. Results We found acute increases in low-frequency and total spectrum heart rate variability, and in vagal baroreflex gain, correlated with slow breathing during biofeedback periods. Increased baseline baroreflex gain also occurred across sessions in the biofeedback group, independent of respiratory changes, and peak expiratory flow increased in this group, independently of cardiovascular changes. Biofeedback was accompanied by fewer adverse relaxation side effects than the control condition. Conclusions Heart rate variability biofeedback had strong long-term influences on resting baroreflex gain and pulmonary function. It should be examined as a method for treating cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Also, this study demonstrates neuroplasticity of the baroreflex.
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A breathing rate of six breaths/min has been shown to stimulate and exercise the baroreflex.
“Finally, CART-trained patients were instructed to gradually regulate their RR down to six breaths/min in the fourth week of training, a breathing rate that has been shown to stimulate and exercise the baroreflex (Lehrer et al., 2003).”
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- Authors
- Lehrer, P. M., Vaschillo, E., Vaschillo, B., Lu, S.-E., Eckberg, D. L., Edelberg, R., Shih, W. J., Lin, Y., Kuusela, T. A., Tahvanainen, K. U. O., & Hamer, R. M.
- Affiliations
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
- ORCID
- Venue
- Psychosomatic Medicine
- Published
- 2003-09
- Volume
- 65
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 796-805
- ISSN
- 0033-3174 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2117814310
- Cited by
- 497
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 19 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 33 · 2022: 33 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 27 · 2014: 30 · 2013: 27 · 2012: 23
- FWCI
- 4.17
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychosomatic Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL58805, R01HL058805)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Vagus Nerve Stimulation Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac Health and Mental Health
- Keywords
- heart rate variability biofeedback, baroreflex gain, vagal baroreflex, peak expiratory flow, lung function, slow-paced breathing, neuroplasticity, autonomic nervous system
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Biofeedback, Psychology, Blood Pressure, Female, Heart Rate, Humans, Male, Peak Expiratory Flow Rate, Surveys and Questionnaires, Random Allocation, Relaxation Therapy, Respiration, Vagus Nerve, Baroreflex
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