UNIDIRECTIONAL AND LARGE MAGNITUDE HEART RATE CHANGES WITH AUGMENTED SENSORY FEEDBACK

In the first of two studies, subjects (Ss) were required to either raise or lower heart rate (HR) relative to pre-trial baseline by altering a tone which changed frequency with HR. Reliable increases but no decreases in HR were found. In a second study extended training of a single S with visual feedback resulted in consistent sustained HR increases of 15 to 35 beats per minute (bpm), but only slight decreases. Sustained elevated rate was accompanied by anxiety. No reliable changes in breathing occurred in either study.