26th Annual Student Research Conference
Can Heartfelt Emotion Facilitate Autonomic Recovery from a Math Stressor?
Sandi Bowers*, Sierra Horton, Drew Turner, Simone Collins, and Erin Land
Dr. Fred Shaffer, Faculty Mentor
The present study explored whether the induction of heartfelt emotion (HFE) following an experimental stressor can aid autonomic recovery. Twenty-four undergraduates (11 male and 13 female), 18 to 22 years of age, participated in this study. In this within-subjects design, participants were randomly assigned to two sequences of 5-minute conditions that were separated by 5-minute buffer periods. Half of the subjects started with the serial sevens-HFE sequence and half with the serial sevens-control sequence. Data were analyzed using a GLM analysis with familywise correction. Heartfelt emotion (HFE) was successfully manipulated. HFE following a serial sevens stressor did not aid recovery more than the control condition for blood pressure, HRV time domain, frequency domain, heart rate, skin conductance, or temperature measurements. These findings do not support the use of HFE to facilitate autonomic recovery following exposure to stressors in individuals who resemble our students.
Keywords: heart rate variability, heartfelt emotion, biofeedback, autonomic recovery, stressor
Topic(s):Psychology
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 107-3
Location: MG 1000
Time: 8:30