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Published on: April 7, 2020
Heart rate variability and chronotype - a systematic review
Kirsi Honkalampi1, Susanna Järvelin-Pasanen2, Mika P Tarvainen3,4
1School of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Philosophical Faculty, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland.
Insights
This review found that chronotype, or your natural sleep-wake preference, is linked to heart rate variability (HRV). Evening types show reduced HRV during morning tasks compared to morning types.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Chronobiology
- Psychophysiology
Background:
- Limited research exists on the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV) and chronotype (morningness/eveningness).
- Understanding this association is crucial for optimizing health and well-being based on individual circadian rhythms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and examine the association between chronotype, HRV, mood, and stress response.
- To synthesize current evidence on how morningness and eveningness influence physiological and psychological parameters.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of major databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, etc.) for peer-reviewed articles published between January 2000 and June 2020.
- Inclusion of 11 studies (7 experimental, 4 crossover) assessing HRV (time-domain, frequency-domain) and chronotype (MEQ, MCTQ) in diverse populations.
- Analysis of findings related to HRV, chronotype, mood, and stress responses in various contexts like shiftwork, stress, exercise, and sleep deprivation.
Main Results:
- Chronotype is associated with HRV, though findings are context-dependent and sometimes contradictory.
- Evening types (E-types) demonstrated decreased HRV and impaired HRV recovery during morning or daytime tasks compared to morning types (M-types).
- Some studies indicated performance differences, with E-types excelling in evening/night tasks and M-types in morning activities.
Conclusions:
- The association between chronotype and HRV is evident but requires further investigation due to methodological limitations (e.g., small sample sizes).
- Future research should employ longitudinal designs to better understand the chronotype-HRV relationship.
- Personalized strategies leveraging chronotype could enhance the health and well-being of both M-type and E-type individuals.
Abstract:
There is a scarcity of evidence on the association between heart rate variability (HRV) and chronotype, i.e., morningness and eveningness. The aim of this systematic review was to examine the association between chronotype, HRV, mood and stress response. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cinahl, PsycINFO and Google Scholar for peer-reviewed articles published in English between January 2000 and June 2020. A total of 11 articles met the inclusion criteria and were on study population, assessment of HRV and chronotype, main results and study limitations. Seven of the included studies were experimental and four were crossovers. The sample size varied from 9 to 221 participants, and both females and males were included. HRV was assessed using mostly time-domain and frequency-domain parameters; nonlinear parameters were used in only one study. The most used assessments for measuring chronotype were the Horne-Östberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) and the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire (MCTQ). The results showed that chronotype was associated with HRV, but the study designs were situation-specific, focusing, for example, on the effects of shiftwork, stressful situations, exercise, or sleep deprivation on HRV. In addition, some studies showed that evening types (E-type) performed better during evening or nighttime tasks, whereas morning types (M-type) performed better during morning activities. Specifically, E-types showed decreased HRV and HRV recovery in relation to tasks performed during morning or daytime when compared to M-types. As the findings are somewhat contradictory and include some methodological limitations (e.g., small sample sizes, age groups), it is important for future studies to evaluate the association between chronotype and HRV in a longitudinal setting. In addition, further research is needed to determine how chronotype can be optimally and individually utilized to increase the health and well-being of M-type and E-type individuals.
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