ECG parameters and psycho-emotional state interrelations among healthy students

Abstract

Assessment of psychological and physiological interaction is becoming more and more important in science world these days [1, 2]. However, there is still not enough studies on psycho-physiological effects among young healthy students. Studies that had been carried out using relaxation techniques showed great improvement on subjects‘ cardiovascular function [3], others proved that relaxation techniques improve the quality of life [4]. Research aim - to evaluate psycho-physiological interrelations among healthy students. Methods. Study subjects consisted of 17 4th-year students (9 females, 8 males) at Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. Procedure. Each participant was measured twice – in the morning and in the evening of the same day. At first, a participant had to lay down for 5 minutes in a total rest. Then a 5-minute relaxation technique Heart Lock-In, developed by the Institute of HeartMath (California, USA) was applied. During those two stages participants were attached to the ECG registration equipment. ECG registration methods. The computerized electrocardiograph analysis system “Kaunas-Load”, developed at the Institute of Cardiology of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, was used for ECG parameters registration, initial data processing, noise filtering and ECG complexes recognizing. The following ECG parameters were addressed: RR interval, JT interval and QRS interval. Psycho-emotional state was measured by a questionnaire, designed together with a research department at the Institute of HeartMath. The questionnaire consisted of questions measuring four dimensions of psycho-emotional state: physical vitality, emotional vitality, social connectedness and overall wellbeing. Participants were asked to subjectively evaluate their state considering their experiences and feelings over last few hours prior the survey. The data was processed using Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS Statistics 22.0 pr[...].