How heart rate variability affects emotion regulation brain networks

Abstract

Individuals with high heart rate variability tend to have better emotional well-being than those with low heart rate variability, but the mechanisms of this association are not yet clear. In this paper, we propose the novel hypothesis that by inducing oscillatory activity in the brain, high amplitude oscillations in heart rate enhance functional connectivity in brain networks associated with emotion regulation. Recent studies using daily biofeedback sessions to increase the amplitude of heart rate oscillations suggest that high amplitude physiological oscillations have a causal impact on emotional well-being. Because blood flow timing helps determine brain network structure and function, slow oscillations in heart rate have the potential to strengthen brain network dynamics, especially in medial prefrontal regulatory regions that are particularly sensitive to physiological oscillations.

Figure 1

A. An example of heart rate variability during about a 2.5 minute time period during quiet rest. B. The same person’s heart rate during resonance breathing during another 2.5 minute time period.

Figure 2 (Article Summary Figure)

How resonance breathing could lead to improved emotional well-being by stimulating functional connectivity of emotion regulation networks within the brain.