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The Non-invasive Assessment of Autonomic Influences on the Heart Using Impedance Cardiography and Heart Rate Variability

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Handbook of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

A major goal of the present chapter is to try to provide a comprehensive framework that researchers can use to generate testable hypotheses about the autonomic influences on the heart. This will include a brief discussion of the differential autonomic influences on different cardiac effector tissues including sympathetic–parasympathetic interactions as well as the discussion of cardiovascular activation components and the baroreflex. In addition, we will briefly overview the genetics as well as the neural concomitants of impedance derived indices and heart rate variability (HRV). Another goal will be to expose researchers to the range of phenomena that might be related to measures of impedance cardiography and HRV. These include aspects of physiological regulation, emotional regulation, and cognitive regulation. Finally, we will try to present what we perceive to be some of the future challenges in using these important techniques.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Note: This is an updated and expanded version of a previous chapter, Thayer JF, Hansen AL, Johnsen BH: Non-invasive assessment of autonomic influences on the heart: Impedance cardiography and heart rate variability. In Luecken LJ, Gallo LC (eds.), Handbook of Physiological Research Methods in Health Psychology. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, 2008, 183-209.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, 1835 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Julian F. Thayer (The Ohio Eminent Scholar Professor in Health Psychology)

  2. Operational Psychology Research Group, Department of Psychosocial Sciences, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Christiesgate 12, N-5015, Bergen, Norway

    Anita L. Hansen (Leader)

  3. Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Christiesgate 12, N-5015, Bergen, Norway

    Bjorn Helge Johnsen (Professor of Personality Psychology)

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  1. Julian F. Thayer
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Correspondence to Julian F. Thayer .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. St Georges Hospital Medical School, Dept. Psychology, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, United Kingdom

    A. Steptoe

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Thayer, J.F., Hansen, A.L., Johnsen, B.H. (2010). The Non-invasive Assessment of Autonomic Influences on the Heart Using Impedance Cardiography and Heart Rate Variability. In: Steptoe, A. (eds) Handbook of Behavioral Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-09488-5_47

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