Respiratory Biofeedback Does Not Facilitate Lowering Arousal in Meditation Through Virtual Reality

Overview

Journal Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback

Publisher Springer

Date 2018 Nov 1

PMID 30377895

Citations 13

Authors

Angelica M Tinga

Ivan Nyklicek

Michel P Jansen

Tycho T de Back

Max M Louwerse

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The current study examined the effectiveness of respiratory biofeedback in lowering subjective and objective arousal after stress. Participants were presented with a meditation session in virtual reality while subjective and objective arousal were measured, the latter measured through ECG and EEG. Three conditions were used: (a) a respiratory biofeedback condition, in which visual feedback was paired to breathing; (b) a control feedback placebo condition, in which visual feedback was not paired to breathing; and (c) a control no-feedback condition, in which no visual feedback was used. Subjective and objective arousal decreased during meditation after stress in all conditions, demonstrating recovery after stress during meditation in virtual reality. However, the reduction in arousal (on all outcome measures combined and heart rate specifically) was largest in the control feedback placebo condition, in which no biofeedback was used, indicating that respiratory biofeedback had no additional value in reducing arousal. The findings of the current study highlight the importance of including a control feedback placebo condition in order to establish the exact additional value of biofeedback and offer insights in applying cost-effective virtual reality meditation training.

Citing Articles

Neurological Evidence of Diverse Self-Help Breathing Training With Virtual Reality and Biofeedback Assistance: Extensive Exploration Study of Electroencephalography Markers.

Ng H, Wu C, Hsu H, Huang C, Hsu A, Chao Y JMIR Form Res. 2024; 8:e55478.

PMID: 39642375 PMC: 11662191. DOI: 10.2196/55478.

Immersive Innovations: Exploring the Diverse Applications of Virtual Reality (VR) in Healthcare.

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Virtual Reality Breathing Interventions for Mental Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

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Virtual Reality for Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Comprehensive Review.

Pittara M, Matsangidou M, Pattichis C JMIR Rehabil Assist Technol. 2023; 10:e47114.

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Dynamics of Physiological, Biochemical and Psychological Markers during Single Session of Virtual Reality-Based Respiratory Biofeedback Relaxation.

Mazgelyte E, Zagorskaja J, Dereskeviciute E, Petrenas T, Kaminskas A, Songailiene J Behav Sci (Basel). 2022; 12(12).

PMID: 36546965 PMC: 9774569. DOI: 10.3390/bs12120482.

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