Heart Rate Variability and vagal tone biofeedback
Daniela Palomba, Giorgio Bertolotti
In recent years there has been a substantial increase in research on heart rate variability (HRV), as
an index of autonomic nervous system regulation. HRV-Biofeedback has been applied in a number of
medical, psychiatric or health related conditions characterised by reduced HRV. This review provides
a general overview of HRV psychophysiology, methods of measurement and the principal applications
of HRV-Biofeedback. Data support the clinical efficacy of the treatment in several clinical conditions;
however issues for mechanisms of effect should be seriously considered in order to advance our
understanding of mechanisms underlying HRV-Biofeedback. Further research should be supported and
encouraged in order to strengthen the evidence for the efficacy of such a promising psychophysiological
treatment.
Keywords
Biofeedback, Heart rate variability, Respiratory sinus arrhythmia, Autonomic
nervous system, Clinical outcomes.
