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Heart rate and heart rate variability in infants during olfactory stimulation

Yuko Tsunetsugu1, Keita Ishibashi2

  • 1Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo , Tokyo , Japan.

Annals of Human Biology
|May 24, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Infants show innate autonomic responses to plant odors, with limonene decreasing heart rate and alpha-pinene affecting heart rate variability. These findings suggest early-life olfactory experiences shape physiological reactions to natural scents.

Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Neuroscience
  • Olfactory Science

Background:

  • Plant odors can influence autonomic nervous system activity, affecting heart rate and parasympathetic tone.
  • Innate autonomic responses to odors, independent of learned associations, require further investigation, especially in early development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate autonomic responses, specifically heart rate and heart rate variability, in infants exposed to distinct plant odor components.
  • To determine if infants exhibit innate physiological reactions to natural odors.

Main Methods:

  • Seventeen infants (1-3.5 months old) were exposed to alpha-pinene, D-limonene, and air (control) odors for 2 minutes each.
  • Heart rate variability (HRV) was measured via R-R intervals throughout the exposure period.
  • Frequency analysis was used to analyze HRV power spectrum changes.

Main Results:

  • D-limonene exposure led to a significant decrease in infant heart rate.
  • Limonene odor presentation significantly increased HRV power at 0.2 Hz compared to baseline.
  • Alpha-pinene exposure resulted in significantly lower HRV power at 0.1 Hz and 0.4 Hz.

Conclusions:

  • Infants demonstrate innate autonomic responses to specific natural odors, indicating early-life olfactory processing.
  • The physiological mechanisms underlying these autonomic responses to odors may differ between infants and adults.

Keywords:
Autonomic nervous systemelectrocardiographyfrequency analysisolfactory stimulation

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