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Unraveling the Temporal Interplay of Slow-Paced Breathing and Prefrontal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Cardiac Indices of Autonomic Activity
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  • Zefeng Li,
  • Emmanuelle Schoonjans,
  • Jens Allaert,
  • Stefanie De Smet,
  • Mitchel Kappen,
  • Joni Houfflyn,
  • Cristina Ottaviani,
  • Rudi De Raedt,
  • Matias Pulopulos,
  • Marie-Anne Vanderhasselt
Zefeng Li
Ghent University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Emmanuelle Schoonjans
Ghent University Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
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Jens Allaert
Ghent University Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
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Stefanie De Smet
UZ Gent
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Mitchel Kappen
Ghent University Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
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Joni Houfflyn
Ghent University
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Cristina Ottaviani
Sapienza University of Rome
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Rudi De Raedt
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Matias Pulopulos
Ghent University Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
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Marie-Anne Vanderhasselt
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Abstract

The neurovisceral integration model proposes that information flows bidirectionally between the brain and the heart via the vagus nerves and vagally-mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV) can be used to index heart-brain interaction. Recent research has shown that voluntary reduction of breathing rate (slow-paced breathing, SPB) can enhance cardiac vagal control. Additionally, prefrontal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can modulate the excitability of the prefrontal region and influence the vagus nerve. However, fundamental research on the combination of SPB and prefrontal tDCS to increase vmHRV and other physiological indices of the autonomic nervous system is scarce. Therefore, 200 healthy participants were assigned to four experimental groups. Each group received either 20 min of active or sham tDCS combined with 5.5 breath per minute (BPM) or 15 BPM breathing. Regardless of the tDCS condition, the SPB group showed a significant increase in vmHRV over 20 minutes, suggesting an increase in parasympathetic activity. In addition, a significant decrease in HR at the first and second 5-minute epochs of the intervention. Regardless of breathing condition, the active tDCS group exhibited higher HR at the fourth 5-minute epoch of the intervention compared to the sham tDCS group, suggesting more sympathetic arousal. However, there was no combined effect on vmHRV, HR, skin conductance, or blood pressure. SPB is a robust technique for increasing vmHRV, whereas prefrontal tDCS may produce effects that counteract those of SPB. More research is necessary to test whether and how top-down and bottom-up approaches can be combined to improve vagal control.
Submitted to Psychophysiology
29 Mar 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
28 Apr 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
09 Jun 20242nd Revision Received
10 Jun 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
10 Jun 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
28 Jun 2024Editorial Decision: Accept