Autonomic Profile under Hypnosis as Assessed by Heart Rate Variability and Spectral Analysis

To test the hypothesis of a sympathovagal balance shift towards an enhanced vagal tone under the condition of a standardized hypnosis, we used the assessment of heart rate variability including spectral analysis in 10 healthy subjects (5 female, 5 male, age ranging from 27 to 42 years). We compared the subjects under baseline condition (resting) and under hypnosis, measured on a different day, for a measuring period of five minutes for each condition. The result was reduced total power in the low frequency band (0.01 - 0.05 Hz) reflecting sympathetic activity. Also, the ratio of low to high frequency power (LFIHF) was reduced when under hypnosis. This reduction was due to a reduced LF component, but only a slightly reduced mid frequency component. With considerable variability, we also found activated mid frequency bands (0.05 - 0.15 Hz) under hypnosis, likely reflecting baroreceptor activity. We conclude that the autonomic status in hypnosis is associated with a change towards reduced low frequency activity, but not necessarily with enhanced high frequency activity.

References

• 1 Akselrod S, Gordon D, Ubel F A, Shannon D C, Barger A C, Cohen R J. Power spectrum analysis of heart rate fluctuation: A quantative probe of beat to beat cardiovascular control.  Science. 1981;  213 220-222
• 2 Appel M L, Berger R D, Saul J P, Smith J M, Cohen R J. Beat to beat variability in cardiovascular variables: Noise or music?.  J Am Coll Cardiol. 1989;  14 1139-1148
• 3 Chess G F, Tam R M, Calaresu F R. Influence of cardiac neural inputs on rhythmic variations of heart period in cats.  American Journal of Physiology. 1975;  228 775-780
• 4 De Benedetti G, Cigada M, Bianchi A, Gabriella M, Cerutti S. Autonomic changes during hypnosis: A heart rate variability power spectrum analysis as a marker of sympatho-vagal balance.  The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. 1994;  VoI. XLII No. 2 140-152
• 5 De Pascalis V, Ray W J, Tranquillo I, Amico D D. EEG activity and heart rate during recall of emotional events in hypnosis: relationships with hypnotizability and suggestibility.  International Journal of Psychophysiology. 1998;  29 255-275
• 6 Guidelines, Heart Rate Variability . Standards of measurement, physiological interpretation, and clinical use. Task Force of the European Society of Cardiology and The North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology.  European Heart Journal. 1996;  17 354-381
• 7 Harris R M, Porges S W, Clemenson M E, Vincenz L M. Hypnotic susceptibility, mood state, and cardiovascular reactivity.  Amer J Clin Hypn. 1993;  36 15-23
• 8 Malik M, Camm A J. Components of heart rate variability - what they really mean and what we really measure.  The American Journal of Cardiology. 1993;  72 821-822
• 9 Pagani M, Lombardi F, Guzetti S. et al . Power spectrum analysis of heart rate and arterial pressure variabilities as a marker of sympatho-vagal interaction in man and conscious dog.  Circulation Research. 1986;  59 178-193
• 10 Paul G L. Physiological effects of relaxation training and hypnotic suggestion.  Journal of Abnormal Psychology. 1969;  74 425-437
• 11 Pomeranz M, Macaulay R J B, Cudill M A. Assessment of autonomic function in humans by heart rate spectral analysis.  American Journal of Physiology. 1985;  248 151-153
• 12 Rechlin T, Weis M, Spitzer A, Kaschka W P. Are affective disorders associated with alterations of heart rate variability?.  Journal of Affective Disorders. 1994;  32 271-275
• 13 Rechlin T, Weis M, Claus D, Kaschka W P. Identifying delirious states and autonomic cardiovascular dysfunction associated with amitriptyline treatment by standardized analysis of heart rate.  Psychiat Res. 1995;  56 279-287
• 14 Rechlin T, Beck G, Weis M, Kaschka W P. Correlation between plasma clozapine concentration and heart rate variability in schizophrenic patients.  Psychopharmacology. 1998;  135 338-341
• 15 Vaitl D, Petermann F. Handbuch der Entspannungsverfahren. Beltz Verlagsunion Weinheim. 1993 Bd I
• 16 Weis M, Claus D, Rechlin T, Neundörfer B. Störungen der autonomen Herzfrequenzregulation bei Patienten mit Hirnstammprozessen.  Nervenarzt. 1994;  65 381-389
• 17 Weitzenhoffer A M, Hildgard E R. Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C. Consulting Psychologists Press. Palo Alto.CA 1962
• 18 Ziegler D, Laux G, Dannehl K, Spüler M, Mühlen H, Mayer P, Gries F. Assessment of cardiovascular autonomic function: Age related normal ranges and reproducibility of spectral analysis, vector analysis and standard tests of heart rate variation and blood pressure responses.  Diabetic Medicine. 1992;  9 166-175