Key result
Differences in heart rate variability during emotional picture viewing were most pronounced in the follicular phase, where erotic images significantly increased parasympathetic activity compared to other stimuli.
Why the study?
The study investigated the dynamics of spectral indices of cardiac rhythm variability while viewing emotional IAPS images across different phases of the menstrual cycle.
Observational (n=32)
No
Heart rate variability responses to emotional stimuli in women are highly dependent on the menstrual cycle phase, being most informative during the follicular phase.
HRV responses to emotional stimuli may vary by menstrual phase in women; leaves open whether cycle phase should be standardized in future autonomic research.
The peculiarities of the dynamics of the spectral indices of cardiac rhythm variability in 32 women 17-23 years of age while viewing emotional IAPS (International affective picture system) images in different phases of the menstrual cycle were studied. It is shown that the differences in the regulation of the heart rhythm associated with viewing emotional images of different types are manifested mainly in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. During this period, significant differences in viewing emotional images of different types were found in the absolute and relative power of the very low-frequency (VLF) and high-frequency (HF) component of the spectrum. In the ovulation phase, emotion-sensitive markerwas a lowfrequency spectrum component (LF), reflecting the effect of the sympathetic nervous system on cardiac rhythm. This indicator was significantly higher when viewing unpleasant images compared to pleasant and erotic visual stimuli.The contribution of the sympathetic division to the regulation of cardiac rhythm was observed during viewing of negative and neutral images, and only the viewing of erotic images was characterized by an increase in parasympathetic activity, which was accompaniedwith the increased power of the high-frequency component of the spectrum (HF) reducing the proportion of LF/HF and respiratory rate. The study shows that during the menstrual cycle, the autonomic balance shifts toward the predominance of sympathetic regulation of the heart rhythm, which reaches a maximum in the luteal phase. In this regard, the activity level of the sympathetic link recorded by the power of the low-frequency (LF) component while viewing unpleasant images was the lowest in the follicular phase and the highest in the luteal one. No significant differences were found between the spectral indices of cardio-interval variability when viewing emotional images in the luteal phase, indicating that this period of the cycle was low informative to assess the characteristics of women's emotional response based on heart rate analysis.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Кравченко et al. (2020) conducted an observational in Healthy (n=32). Viewing emotionally colored images (IAPS) vs. Different types of images (positive, neutral, erotic, negative) across menstrual cycle phases was evaluated on Spectral indices of heart rate variability (VLF, LF, HF, LF/HF) and respiratory rate. Differences in heart rate variability during emotional picture viewing were most pronounced in the follicular phase, where erotic images significantly increased parasympathetic activity compared to other stimuli.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: