Dimitriev, D. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2022

The effect of auditory stimulation on the nonlinear dynamics of heart rate: the impact of emotional valence and arousal.

BackgroundAlthough it is known that sound exposure evokes changes in autonomic activity, the effects of noise and music on the nonlinear behavior of heart rate fluctuations remain poorly understood and controversial. This study aims to assess the influence of sound subjective emotional valence and arousal on the nonlinear characteristics of the autonomic nervous system during passive listening. MethodsIn this study, forty-two subjects listened to four sounds: (1) white noise, (2) road traffic noise, (3) excitatory music, and (4) a lullaby. The experiment consisted of two consecutive sessions: five minutes of rest, followed by five minutes of listening. RR intervals were recorded during both sessions. The following linear and nonlinear heart rate variability indices were computed: SDNN, RMSSD, F, HF, approximate (ApEn) and sample entropy (SampEn), correlation dimension (D2), Poincare plot indices (SD1, SD2), fractal scaling exponents (alpha1, alpha2), and recurrence plot indices (Lmean, Lmax, DET, LAM, Vmax, TT, ShanEn). ResultsExcitatory music was associated with significant decrease in SDNN and RMSSD, diminished HF, and a substantial reduction in LF. Excitatory music exposure induced significant increases in DET, SD1 and SD2, but changes in DFA, SampEn, and D2 were nonsignificant. Traffic noise, white noise, and the lullaby did not cause significant changes in the measures of heart rate variability. ConclusionPresentation of music evoking strong negative emotions elicits a prominent decrease in respiratory sinus arrhythmia. Poincare plot and recurrence plot measures possess high sensitivity to high arousal and unpleasant music. Contrary to previous studies, we did not find the effects of relaxing music on heart rate variability.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2018

Interindividual variability in HRV reactivity: autonomic flexibility or regression to the mean?

ObjectiveThere is now a substantial body of evidence linking the baseline level of heart rate variability (HRV) with the magnitude of stress-induced reduction in respiratory sinus arrhythmia. However, it remains to be proved to what extent these interindividual differences in stress responses may be attributed to the statistical phenomenon of regression to the mean (RTM). We sought to test the hypothesis that the statistical artifact RTM explains part of the baseline effect.\n\nApproachHeart rate recording was carried out in 1,156 volunteers. To obtain an estimate of the stress response, 148 persons were randomly selected. Participants were monitored on a rest day and just before an academic examination for state anxiety and HRV. Participants were divided into quartiles according to baseline HRV levels and were compared for response to academic stress.\n\nMain resultsWe observed a significant reduction in HRV in subjects with a high baseline HRV (> 75th percentile), while a significant increase was found in the group with low baseline HRV. Regression analysis demonstrated that the value of baseline HRV correlated with the magnitude of stress reaction consistent with the RTM model. Baseline-adjusted ANCOVA does not reveal significant intergroup differences in the changes in heart rate (HR) and HRV from rest to exam. RTM-adjusted estimates confirmed an exam effect for HR and HRV.\n\nSignificanceThe results of our study strongly support RTM as the source of variability of stress-related changes in HRV.

physiology↗