Analysis of the heart rate variability in negative functional states in the course of psychological relaxation sessions

Abstract- The aim of this study was to compare the effects of psychological relaxation on the heart rate variability (HRV) in subjects with a number of negative functional states: asthenia, depression, and neurotic symptoms. The analysis performed allowed us to reveal the dynamics of the HRV variables characteristic of each negative functional state and to determine indicators, which are significant for their diagnosis. The effectiveness of using HRV analysis for the control and management of the psychological relaxation process and the diagnosis of a number of negative functional states in humans is substantiated by the study results. In 1997, a special course for the development of self-regulation and autotraining habits in NPS operators that included the system of psychotechnical exercises, autogenic immersion according to M.M. Reshetnikov's variant, and psychological relaxation sessions based on the method of image identification using theatrical and musical compositions was developed at the Psychophysiological Survey Laboratory (PSL) of the Novovoronezh Center for Training NPS Personnel. Physiological control of the functional state of the human during psychological relaxation played an important role when administering this course. To solve this task, we decided to use the heart rate variability (HRV) analysis that is used at the PSL when carrying out a psychophysiological survey of NPS personnel. HRV analysis gained wide acceptance over the last ten years as a method that allows us to quantitatively characterize the activity of different divisions of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) through their influence on the function of the sinus node of the heart, which is reflected in variations in the duration of the RR-intervals [I]