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Published on: August 2, 2017
Heart-rate variability as a quantitative measure of hypnotic depth
Solomon Gilbert Diamond1, Orin C Davis, Robert D Howe
1Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Solomon.G.Diamond@Dartmouth.edu
The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis
|December 7, 2007
Summary
Heart-rate variability (HRV) can quantitatively measure hypnotic depth in real-time. Changes in the high-frequency component of HRV correlate with self-rated hypnotic depth, suggesting autonomic nervous system involvement.
Area of Science:
- Psychophysiology
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Hypnotic depth measurement is typically subjective.
- Objective, real-time measures of hypnotic depth are needed.
- Heart-rate variability (HRV) reflects autonomic nervous system activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if heart-rate variability (HRV) can serve as a real-time quantitative measure of hypnotic depth.
- To correlate continuous self-rated hypnotic depth (SRHD) with HRV parameters.
Main Methods:
- 10 volunteers underwent hypnotic suggestion.
- Continuous SRHD was recorded.
- Time-frequency analysis of heart-rate variability (HRV) was performed.
- Correlations between SRHD and HRV components (heart rate, amplitude, frequency) were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Significant linear relationships were found between SRHD and the high-frequency (HF) component of HRV.
- SRHD correlated negatively with HF frequency and positively with HF amplitude.
- SRHD temporal trends closely matched a first-order system response (R(2) = .99) with a 4-minute time constant.
Conclusions:
- HRV, specifically the parasympathetic nervous system's reactivity, shows potential for real-time, quantitative hypnotic depth assessment.
- This objective measure could enhance hypnotic research and clinical applications.
- Further validation of HRV as a hypnotic depth metric is warranted.
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