Tactile interoceptive stimulation using a portable device enhanced the short-term vagally mediated component of HRV and high frequency band power compared to static non-interoceptive pressure.
RCT (n=13)
Single-blind
Randomly assigned
Does tactile interoceptive stimulation using a portable device improve heart rate variability in human subjects?
A novel portable device delivering tactile interoceptive stimulation successfully enhanced heart rate variability parameters (rMSSD and high frequency band power) compared to static pressure.
In this paper, we describe and test a new portable device that is able to deliver tactile interoceptive stimulation. The device works by delivering precise interoceptive parasympathetic stimuli to C-tactile afferents connected to the lamina I spinothalamocortical system. In humans, interoceptive stimulation can be used to enhance heart rate variability (HRV). To test the effectiveness of the device in enhancing HRV, 13 subjects were randomly assigned in a single-blind between-subjects design either to the experimental condition or to the control condition. In the experimental condition, subjects received stimulation with the developed device; in the control condition subjects received stimulation with static non-interoceptive pressure. Subjects' electrocardiograms (ECG) were recorded, with sampling at 1000 Hz for 5 min as a baseline, and then during the stimulations (11 min). Time domain analyses were performed to estimate the short-term vagally mediated component (rMSSD) of HRV. Results indicated that the experimental group showed enhanced rMSSD, compared to the control group. Moreover, frequency domain analyses indicated that high frequency band power, which reflects parasympathetic activity in humans, also appeared to be enhanced in the experimental group compared to control subjects. Conclusions and future challenges for an embodied perspective of rehabilitative medicine are discussed.
Lernia et al. (Mon,) reported a rct. Portable device delivering tactile interoceptive stimulation vs. Static non-interoceptive pressure was evaluated on Short-term vagally mediated component (rMSSD) of HRV. Tactile interoceptive stimulation using a portable device enhanced the short-term vagally mediated component of HRV and high frequency band power compared to static non-interoceptive pressure.