Brain-heart interplay modulation during biofeedback: A new frontier in understanding self-regulation

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychophysiology
• Cardiology

Background:

• Brain-body communication is crucial for self-regulation; disruptions link to mental health issues.
• The study investigates Brain-Heart Interplay (BHI) during heart rate biofeedback (HR-BF).

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine BHI indexes during voluntary self-regulation of heart rate.
• To understand neural and cardiac interactions during HR-BF tasks.

Main Methods:

• 45 healthy students participated in a single HR-BF session.
• Electroencephalogram and electrocardiogram were used to co-register brain and heart activity.
• Participants modulated heart rate with or without visual feedback.

Main Results:

• Participants were better at increasing HR than decreasing it, and improved with feedback.
• HR decrease showed greater brain-to-HRV coupling in theta/alpha bands.
• HR increase showed greater HRV-to-alpha coupling; less feedback increased brain-to-HRV coupling.

Conclusions:

• Distinct BHI patterns support voluntary self-regulation of heart rate.
• Top-down control may be higher without feedback, indicating increased cognitive demand.
• Findings elucidate brain-heart communication in autonomic control.