Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Muscle Stimulation Frequency01:22

Muscle Stimulation Frequency

3.0K
The contraction strength of muscles is regulated by motor neurons, which modulate the frequency of action potentials dispatched to the motor units based on the body's requirements. This process of varying the muscle stimulation frequency allows muscles to contract with a force that is precisely tailored to the needs of the moment, whether lifting a feather or a heavy box.
Wave summation
At low firing rates, motor neurons induce individual twitch contractions in muscle fibers. These twitches...
3.0K
Dysrhythmias III: Characteristics of Dysrhythmias01:29

Dysrhythmias III: Characteristics of Dysrhythmias

142
Dysrhythmias, also known as arrhythmias, are irregular heart rhythms that result from abnormal electrical activity in the heart, affecting its ability to circulate blood efficiently. Tachyarrhythmias, a subset of dysrhythmias, are characterized by abnormally fast heart rates exceeding 100 beats per minute. Here are some types of tachyarrhythmias with their distinct ECG features:Sinus Tachycardia:Sinus tachycardia presents a regular heart rhythm with an increased rate of 101-180 beats per...
142
Specialized Characteristics of Cardiac Muscles01:27

Specialized Characteristics of Cardiac Muscles

3.0K
The primary role of cardiac muscles is to propel blood throughout the cardiovascular system. The cardiac muscle cells, or cardiomyocytes, exhibit specialized characteristics that allow them to perform this function.
Cardiac muscle cells are smaller than skeletal muscles, averaging 10–20 mm in diameter and 50–100 mm in length. However, they have large energy demands for continuous contraction and relaxation. This energy is almost exclusively derived from aerobic metabolism of energy...
3.0K
Motor Unit Stimulation01:20

Motor Unit Stimulation

2.3K
When the neuron of a motor unit fires an action potential, it triggers a series of events, leading to a twitch contraction in the muscle fibers. The process of excitation-contraction coupling is crucial in relaying the action potential to the muscle fibers.
The latent period of contraction marks the onset of excitation-contraction coupling, when the action potential propagates across the sarcolemma, preparing the muscle fibers for contraction. As the fibers enter the contraction phase, the...
2.3K
Regulation of Pulse01:20

Regulation of Pulse

1.6K
Pulse regulation involves physiological mechanisms that ensure adequate blood flow throughout the body. The heartbeat, regulated by the autonomic nervous system, is influenced by hormonal balance, physical activity, and emotional state.
1.6K
Conduction System of the Heart01:19

Conduction System of the Heart

10.4K
Autorhythmicity is a term that refers to the heart's inherent ability to generate electrical signals and instigate muscle contractions. This self-regulating conduction system within the heart consists of two key components: the pacemaker cells and specialized conducting cells.
The pacemaker cells are located in two primary nodes: the sinoatrial (SA) node and the atrioventricular (AV) node. The SA node pacemaker cells can autonomously depolarize, triggering an action potential that leads to the...
10.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

A Meta-Analysis of Susceptibility to Peer Influence Effects in Adolescence: The Role of Method of Influence and Type of Behavior.

Journal of adolescence·2026
Same author

The Relevance of Heart Rate Variability for Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy.

Brain sciences·2026
Same author

Always There and Never Before: The Eclipse of "Everyday Life".

Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association·2025
Same author

Correspondence covering the psychoanalytic controversies section on the Israel-Palestine conflict (issue 1, 2025).

The International journal of psycho-analysis·2025
Same author

Special Issue on Integrating Psychophysiology with Psychotherapy: Editors' Introduction.

Applied psychophysiology and biofeedback·2025
Same author

Brain-Heart Interactions and Optimizing Psychotherapy.

Applied psychophysiology and biofeedback·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 1, 2025

Procedures for Rat in situ Skeletal Muscle Contractile Properties
09:49

Procedures for Rat in situ Skeletal Muscle Contractile Properties

Published on: October 15, 2011

28.9K

Rhythmic Skeletal Muscle Tension Increases Heart Rate Variability at 1 and 6 Contractions Per Minute.

Fred Shaffer1, Donald Moss2, Zachary M Meehan3

  • 1Center for Applied Psychophysiology, Truman State University, 100 S. Franklin St., 2400G Barnett Hall, Kirksville, MO, 63501, USA. fshaffer@truman.edu.

Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback
|March 8, 2022
PubMed
Summary

Rhythmic muscle tensing at 1 or 6 contractions per minute significantly increases heart rate variability (HRV) metrics. This method offers an alternative to paced breathing for improving cardiovascular health.

Keywords:
Cardiovascular systemHeart rate variabilityPhysiological resonanceRespiratory sinus arrhythmiaRhythmical skeletal muscle tension

More Related Videos

Contractility Measurements on Isolated Papillary Muscles for the Investigation of Cardiac Inotropy in Mice
06:22

Contractility Measurements on Isolated Papillary Muscles for the Investigation of Cardiac Inotropy in Mice

Published on: September 17, 2015

15.2K
Mechanical Control of Relaxation Using Intact Cardiac Trabeculae
07:51

Mechanical Control of Relaxation Using Intact Cardiac Trabeculae

Published on: February 17, 2023

1.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 1, 2025

Procedures for Rat in situ Skeletal Muscle Contractile Properties
09:49

Procedures for Rat in situ Skeletal Muscle Contractile Properties

Published on: October 15, 2011

28.9K
Contractility Measurements on Isolated Papillary Muscles for the Investigation of Cardiac Inotropy in Mice
06:22

Contractility Measurements on Isolated Papillary Muscles for the Investigation of Cardiac Inotropy in Mice

Published on: September 17, 2015

15.2K
Mechanical Control of Relaxation Using Intact Cardiac Trabeculae
07:51

Mechanical Control of Relaxation Using Intact Cardiac Trabeculae

Published on: February 17, 2023

1.3K

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Autonomic Nervous System Regulation
  • Non-linear Dynamics in Biological Systems

Background:

  • Resonance effects in the cardiorespiratory system are achieved at specific frequencies, notably around 6 breaths per minute (bpm), influencing baroreflex gain, blood pressure, and vascular tone.
  • While paced breathing is common for increasing heart rate variability (HRV), alternative methods are being explored.
  • Non-respiratory stimuli, such as emotional images or rhythmic muscle tensing, can also amplify cardiorespiratory oscillations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of rhythmic muscle tensing (RSMT) at different frequencies on cardiovascular and autonomic regulation.
  • To determine if RSMT can replicate the resonance effects observed with slow-paced breathing.
  • To identify optimal frequencies of RSMT for enhancing HRV and related physiological measures.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized controlled trial involving 49 undergraduate students.
  • Participants underwent 5-minute trials of RSMT at 1, 6, and 12 muscle contractions per minute (cpm).
  • Trials were separated by 3-minute buffer periods, and various time-domain, frequency-domain, and non-linear HRV metrics were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • RSMT at 6 cpm replicated the finding that this frequency (approximately 0.10 Hz) induces resonance effects, similar to 6 bpm resonance frequency breathing.
  • RSMT at both 1 cpm and 6 cpm significantly increased several time-domain (HR Max-HR Min, RMSSD, SDNN, TI, TINN), frequency-domain (LF power), and non-linear (D2, SD1, SD2) HRV metrics compared to 12 cpm.
  • No significant differences in these HRV improvements were observed between 1 cpm and 6 cpm RSMT.

Conclusions:

  • RSMT at 1 or 6 cpm effectively enhances HRV and related physiological parameters, demonstrating resonance effects.
  • These findings suggest that RSMT is a viable alternative to paced breathing for increasing HRV.
  • RSMT offers a promising exercise modality for individuals who find slow-paced breathing difficult or medically inadvisable.