Operant conditioning using positive reinforcement on a beat-by-beat basis enabled some subjects to slow their heart rate, an effect apparently not mediated by changes in breathing.
Does operant conditioning with positive reinforcement reduce heart rate in subjects?
This study provides early evidence that heart rate slowing can be achieved through operant conditioning, independent of respiratory changes.
ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to see if heart rate (HR) slowing could be operantly conditioned. Ten experimental S s and five yoked‐control S s were studied. Experimental S s were positively reinforced for slowing their HR on a beat‐by‐beat basis, whereas yoked‐control S s were reinforced in a pattern based on the performance of paired experimental S s. The data showed that: some S s can be taught to slow their HR by means of an operant conditioning procedure; S s appear to learn better when they do not infer correctly what the response is that they are controlling; the conditioned HR response is apparently not mediated by changes in breathing; and reinforcement, per se, is not adequate to lower HR.
Engel et al. (Sat,) reported a other. Operant conditioning (positive reinforcement for slowing heart rate) vs. Yoked-control was evaluated on Heart rate slowing. Operant conditioning using positive reinforcement on a beat-by-beat basis enabled some subjects to slow their heart rate, an effect apparently not mediated by changes in breathing.
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