TY - JOUR

T1 - The Utility of Heartrate and Heartrate Variability Biofeedback for the Improvement of Interoception Across Behavioural, Physiological and Neural Outcome Measures

T2 - A Systematic Review

AU - Wareing, Lettie

AU - Readman, Megan

AU - Longo, Matthew

AU - Linkenauger, Sally

AU - Crawford, Trevor

PY - 2024/6/5

Y1 - 2024/6/5

N2 - Interoceptive dysfunctions are increasingly implicated in a number of physical and mental health conditions. Accordingly, there is a pertinent need for therapeutic interventions which target interoceptive deficits. Heartrate and heartrate variability biofeedback therapy (HR(V)-BF), interventions which train individuals to regulate their cardiovascular signals and constrain these within optimal parameters through breathing, could enhance the functioning of interoceptive pathways via stimulation of the vagus nerve. Consequently, this narrative systematic review sought to synthesise the current state of the literature with regards to the potential of HR(V)-BF as an interoceptive intervention across behavioural, physiological and neural outcome measures related to interoception. In total, 77 papers were included in this review, with the majority using physiological outcome measures. Overall, findings were mixed with respect to improvements in the outcome measures after HR(V)-BF. However, trends suggested that effects on measures related to interoception were stronger when resonance frequency breathing and an intense treatment protocol were employed. 28 Based upon these findings, we propose a three-stage model by which HR(V)-BF may improve interoception which draws upon principles of interoceptive inference and predictive coding. Furthermore, we provide specific directions for future research which will serve to advance the current knowledge state.

AB - Interoceptive dysfunctions are increasingly implicated in a number of physical and mental health conditions. Accordingly, there is a pertinent need for therapeutic interventions which target interoceptive deficits. Heartrate and heartrate variability biofeedback therapy (HR(V)-BF), interventions which train individuals to regulate their cardiovascular signals and constrain these within optimal parameters through breathing, could enhance the functioning of interoceptive pathways via stimulation of the vagus nerve. Consequently, this narrative systematic review sought to synthesise the current state of the literature with regards to the potential of HR(V)-BF as an interoceptive intervention across behavioural, physiological and neural outcome measures related to interoception. In total, 77 papers were included in this review, with the majority using physiological outcome measures. Overall, findings were mixed with respect to improvements in the outcome measures after HR(V)-BF. However, trends suggested that effects on measures related to interoception were stronger when resonance frequency breathing and an intense treatment protocol were employed. 28 Based upon these findings, we propose a three-stage model by which HR(V)-BF may improve interoception which draws upon principles of interoceptive inference and predictive coding. Furthermore, we provide specific directions for future research which will serve to advance the current knowledge state.

KW - interoception

KW - heartrate variability

KW - biofeedback

KW - heartrate variability biofeedback

KW - interoceptive inference

U2 - 10.3390/brainsci14060579

DO - 10.3390/brainsci14060579

M3 - Journal article

VL - 14

JO - Brain Sciences

JF - Brain Sciences

SN - 2076-3425

M1 - 579

ER -