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Gender matters: nonlinear relationships between heart rate variability and depression and positive affect

Vagally mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV), a measure of the parasympathetic nervous system’s control over the heart, is often negatively related to maladaptive emotional outcomes. Recent work suggests that quadratic relationships involving these factors may be present; however, this work has n...

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Main Authors: Spangler, Derek P. (Author) , Dunn, Emily J. (Author) , Aldao, Amelia (Author) , Feeling, Nicole R. (Author) , Free, Matthew L. (Author) , Gillie, Brandon L. (Author) , Vasey, Michael W. (Author) , Williams, DeWayne P. (Author) , Koenig, Julian (Author) , Thayer, Julian F. (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 13 May 2021
In: Frontiers in neuroscience
Year: 2021, Volume: 15, Pages: 1-11
ISSN:1662-453X
DOI:10.3389/fnins.2021.612566
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2021.612566
Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2021.612566/full
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Author Notes:Derek P. Spangler, Emily J. Dunn, Amelia Aldao, Nicole R. Feeling, Matthew L. Free, Brandon L. Gillie, Michael W. Vasey, DeWayne P. Williams, Julian Koenig and Julian F. Thayer
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Summary:Vagally mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV), a measure of the parasympathetic nervous system’s control over the heart, is often negatively related to maladaptive emotional outcomes. Recent work suggests that quadratic relationships involving these factors may be present; however, this work has not investigated gender differences in these nonlinear functions. To address this gap, the current study tested for quadratic relationships between resting vmHRV and depression and positive affect while investigating gender differences in these relationships. Significant quadratic effects were found between resting vmHRV and reports of both depression symptoms and positive affect in women but not men. Specifically, the lowest levels of depression and the highest levels of positive affect were found at moderate vmHRV in women. These results suggest that examinations of vmHRV’s nonlinear associations require the consideration of gender. Our findings are interpreted based on proposed differential neuropsychological mechanisms of vmHRV in men versus women.
Item Description:Gesehen am 07.07.2021
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1662-453X
DOI:10.3389/fnins.2021.612566

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