The influence of monocular viewing on heart period variability

Monocular viewing seems to differentially activate the cerebral hemispheres. Viewing with only one eye is accompanied by a relatively greater activation of the contralateral hemisphere. In this study heart periods were measured during binocular, left and right monocular viewing in 29 right-handed males. Power spectral analysis of heart period variability showed that the amount of heart rate fluctuations in the 0.07-0.13 Hz frequency range (the mid-frequency peak of the spectrum) depends on the viewing eye. Only viewing with the left eye produced a significant increase of the mid-frequency peak. It is known that sympathetic activity contributes strongly to the mid-frequency component of the heart rate. Therefore, it is concluded that the effects of left monocular viewing result in an increased sympathetic influence on the sinoatrial node.