Utility of Heart Rate Variability: Focusing on High and Low-frequency Components

Abstract

Heart rate variability (HRV) refers to heart rate fluctuations that are characterized by normal beat-to-beat changes in cardiovascular autonomic control. HRV has been widely used in psychophysiology and related areas to investigate the activity of the autonomic nervous system. This article focuses on high frequency (HF) and low frequency (LF) components of HRV, and reviews (a) their autonomic neural regulation, (b) relationship between the increase in HRV and psychophysiological adaptation, and (c) therapeutic effects of resonance between respiratory sinus arrhythmia and baroreflex function. Given that autonomic functions supporting homeostasis are an oscillation system, the analysis of HRV is considered to be a useful tool for evaluating psychological factors such as stress and relaxation. Moreover, the resonance property of HRV might make a critical contribution to health promotion.