Individual differences in resting heart rate variability moderate thought suppression success

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Psychophysiology

Background:

• Individual differences in resting heart rate variability (HRV) are linked to self-regulation capacity.
• The predictive role of HRV in cognitive control, specifically thought suppression, remains under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether resting heart rate variability (HRV) predicts the ability to control unwanted intrusive thoughts.
• To examine the relationship between HRV, thought suppression success, and subsequent emotional distress.

Main Methods:

• A thought suppression paradigm was employed, with participants monitoring intrusive thoughts over three periods.
• Participants were instructed to either suppress or not suppress intrusive thoughts.
• Resting heart rate variability (HRV) was measured, and its association with thought frequency and suppression effort was analyzed.

Main Results:

• Higher resting HRV predicted greater reduction in intrusive thoughts among participants instructed to suppress them.
• Resting HRV interacted with spontaneous thought suppression effort to influence intrusive thought frequency.
• Success in HRV-related thought suppression predicted generalized distress symptoms common in depression and anxiety.

Conclusions:

• Resting heart rate variability (HRV) is a significant predictor of cognitive control over unwanted thoughts.
• Individual differences in self-regulatory capacity, as indexed by HRV, influence emotion regulation and distress.
• These findings link psychophysiological measures to cognitive and emotional outcomes, advancing understanding of self-regulation.