Dynamics of Heart Rate Variability in the Reflexivity Task at Different Levels of Anxiety

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis of the effectiveness and adequacy of using reflection to reduce anxiety levels in groups with high and low anxiety. There is evidence in the literature of a negative correlation between heart rate variability (HRV) and anxiety levels, as well as also evidence of the positive influence of reflection and self-reference on HRV. The novelty of our study lies in the establishment of the validity of the author's reflexive projective methodology of imago-reflexive resource (МIRR) in solving the problems of anxiety reduction. The work is a contribution to the confirmation of the role of reflexion in the regulation of the autonomic nervous system. The study involved 117 participants (average age 25±8 years). The sample was divided into groups with low and high anxiety, as well as experimental and control subgroups. The experimental subgroups underwent the author's method MIRR, aimed at activating reflection. Control groups performed tasks related to academic discipline - standard cognitive load. HRV recording was conducted before and after task completion. The results showed consistency with the literature. Specifically, the high anxiety group exhibited lower HRV. Additionally, it was demonstrated that the reflective MIRR method leads to activation of the parasympathetic regulatory circuit of the autonomic nervous system. The greatest shifts were observed in cases of high anxiety. In cases of low anxiety, the reflection process is characterized by the modulating effects of the vagus nerve on the cardiovascular system. Standard cognitive load led to activation of the sympathetic regulatory circuit. Thus, the MIRR method can be used as a tool to reduce anxiety levels.Further research is aimed at assessing the sustainability of the obtained results of anxiety reduction. It is promising to analyze the effectiveness of reflexive techniques in the technologies of psychological assistance to "at-risk" population groups.

1. Anikina V.G., Lagutin A.V. Refleksivnyj aspekt vosprijatija i samovosprijatija sub’ektov v konfliktnom vzaimodejstvii [Reflexive aspect of perception and self-perception of subjects in conflict interaction]. Eksperimental'naja psihologija=Experimental Psychology, 2024. 17, no. 1, pp. 131—148. (In Russ.).
2. Baevsky R.M., Kirillov O.I., Semen Z.K. Matematicheskij analiz izmenenij serdechnogo ritma pri stresse [Mathematical analysis of heart rate changes under stress]. Nauka, 1984. (In Russ.).
3. Baevsky R.M. Analiz variabel'nosti serdechnogo ritma: Istoriya i filosofiya, teoriya i praktika [Analysis of heart rate variability: History and philosophy, theory and practice]. Klinicheskaja informatika i telemedicine [Clinical informatics and telemedicine], 2004. Vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 54—64. (In Russ.).
4. Baevsky R.M., Ivanov G.G. Variabel'nost' serdechnogo ritma: teoreticheskie aspekty i vozmozhnosti klinicheskogo primenenija [Heart rate variability: Theoretical aspects and possibilities of clinical application]. Ul'trazvukovaya i funkcional'naya diagnostika [Ultrasound and functional diagnostics], 2001. No. 3, pp. 108—127. (In Russ.).
5. Belasheva I.V., Ermakov P.N. Personal Emotional Health: A Method for Measuring Difficulties in Emotional Self-Reflection. Russian Psychological Journal, 2023. Vol. 20, 3, pp. 66—96. DOI:10.21702/rpj.2023.3.4
6. Bondarenko I.N., Tsyganov I.Yu., Morosanova V.I. The role of conscious self-regulation in the dynamics of cognitive activity and cognitive engagement of students during the transition from secondary to high school: a longitudinal study. Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seriya 14. Psikhologiya [Moscow University Psychology Bulletin], 2022. No. 4, pp. 200—223. DOI:10.11621/vsp.2022.04.09 (In Russ.).
7. Gordeeva N.D., Zinchenko V.P. Refleksija v predmetnom dejstvii [Reflexion in the Subject Action]. Refleksivnye processy i upravlenie [Reflexive Processes and Management], 2002. Vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 90—105. (In Russ.).
8. Ilyakhinsky A.V., Pakhomov P.A., Anufriev M.A., Levanov V.M., Mukhina I.V. Informacionno-statisticheskij analiz variabel'nosti serdechnogo ritma v ocenke funkcional'nogo sostojanija vegetativnoj nervnoj sistemy cheloveka [Informational and statistical analysis of heart rate variability in the assessment of the functional state of the human vegetative nervous system]. Sovremennye tekhnologii v medicine [Modern Technologies in Medicine], 2015. Vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 67—72. DOI:10.17691/stm2015.7.3.09 (In Russ.).
9. Leont'ev D.A., Osin E.N. Refleksija «horoshaja» i «durnaja»: ot ob#jasnitel'noj modeli k differencial'noj diagnostike [Reflexion "good" and "bad": from the explanatory model to differential diagnostics]. Zhurnal Vysshej shkoly jekonomiki [Psychology. Journal of the Higher School of Economics], 2014. Vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 110—135. (In Russ.).
10. Lefevr V.A., Adams-Vebber Dzh. Funkcii bystroj refleksii v bipoljarnom vybore [Fast Reflexion Functions in Bipolar Choice]. Refleksivnye processy i upravlenie [Reflexive Processes and Control], 2001. No. 1, pp. 34—36. (In Russ.).
11. Polikanova I.S., Sizikova T.E. Vliyanie refleksii na dinamiku pokazatelei variabel'nosti serdechnogo ritma v period vzroslosti [Influence of reflexion on the dynamics of heart rate variability in adulthood]. Sibirskii psikhologicheskii zhurnal [Siberian Psychological Journal], 2024. No. 92, pp. 106—126. DOI:10.17223/17267080/92/6 (In Russ.).
12. Prohorov A.O., Kartasheva M.I., Jusupov M.G. Vzaimosvjaz' sistemy «Ja» i reguljatornyh kachestv studentov v razlichnyh situacijah uchebnoj dejatel'nosti [The relationship between the self system and regulatory qualities of students in different situations of educational activity]. Eksperimental'naja psihologija = Experimental Psychology, 2023. 16, no. 3, pp. 139—150. (In Russ.).
13. Selivanov V.V., Pobokin P.A. Osobennosti trevozhnosti i samoreguljacii psihicheskoj dejatel'nosti v virtual'noj srede [Features of anxiety and self-regulation of mental activity in the virtual environment]. Eksperimental'naja psihologija=Experimental Psychology, 2024. 17, no. 1, pp. 108—117. (In Russ.).
14. Selivanov V.V., Saunin K.A., Chzhan Ch. Profilaktika i korrekcija trevozhno-fobicheskih rasstrojstv v junosheskom vozraste s primeneniem programm virtual'noj real'nosti [Prevention and correction of anxiety-phobic disorders in adolescence using virtual reality programs]. Eksperimental'naja psihologija=Experimental Psychology, 2023. 16, no. 2, pp. 49—67. (In Russ.).
15. Sizikova T.E. Refleksivnoe psikhologicheskoe konsul'tirovanie [Reflexive psychological counseling]: [v 3 ch. monografiya]. CH. 3. Praktika refleksivnogo psikhologicheskogo konsul'tirovaniya / Novosib. gos. ped. un-t. Novosibirsk: NGPU, 2018. 518 p. (In Russ.).
16. Sizikova T.E. Refleksivnoe psikhologicheskoe konsul'tirovanie [Reflexive psychological counseling]: [v 3 ch. monografiya]. Ch. 3. Praktika refleksivnogo psikhologicheskogo konsul'tirovaniya / Novosib. gos. ped. un-t. Novosibirsk: NGPU, 2018. 518 p. (In Russ.).
17. Sizikova T.E., Kudryavcev V.T. Skhema teorii L'va Vygotskogo. Chast' 2 [Scheme of Lev Vygotsky's theory. Part 2]. Kul'turno-istoricheskaya psikhologiya = Cultural-historical psychology, 2023. Vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 23—29. DOI:10.17759/chp.2023190303 (In Russ.).
18. Sizikova T.Je., Leonov S. V., Polikanova I.S. Vlijanie refleksii na jelektrofiziologicheskuju aktivnost' mozga v zavisimosti ot urovnja trevozhnosti [The influence of reflexion on the electrophysiologic activity of the brain depending on the level of anxiety]. Rossijskij psihologicheskij zhurnal [Russian Psychological Journal], (in press).
19. Sizikova T.Je., Leonov S.V., Polikanova I.S. Svobodnoe dejstvie i ego psihofiziologicheskie korreljaty [Free action and its psychophysiological correlates]. Kul'turno-istoricheskaja psihologija = Cultural-historical psychology], Vol. 20, № 2, pp. 15-22. doi:10.17759/chp.2024200202. (In Russ.).
20. Spielberger C.D., Khanin Y.L. A scale for assessing the level of reactive and personality anxiety. Psihologicheskie Testy [Psychological Tests], 2000. No. 1, pp. 39—45. (In Russ.).
21. Tolstoguzov S.N., Elifanov A.V., Mashkina S.A., Najda Ju.V. Psihofiziologicheskie osobennosti molodyh ljudej s priznakami internet-zavisimosti [Psychophysiological features of young people with signs of Internet addiction]. Eksperimental'naja psihologija = Experimental Psychology, 2024. Vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 61—75. (In Russ.).
22. Appelhans B.M., Luecken L.J. Heart Rate Variability as an Index of Regulated Emotional Responding. Review of General Psychology, 2006. No. 10, pp. 229—240. DOI:10.1037/1089-2680.10.3.229
23. Buckner R.L., Carroll D.C. Self-projection and the brain. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 2007. No. 11, pp. 49—57. DOI:10.1016/j.tics.2006.11.004
24. Chalmers J.A., Quintana D.S., Abbott M.J.-A., Kemp A.H. Anxiety Disorders are Associated with Reduced Heart Rate Variability: A Meta-Analysis. Front Psychiatry, 2014. No. 5. DOI:10.3389/fpsyt.2014.00080
25. Cheng Y., Su M., Liu C., Huang Y., Huang W. Heart rate variability in patients with anxiety disorders: A systematic review and meta‐ Psychiatry Clin Neurosci, 2022. No. 76, pp. 292—302. DOI:10.1111/pcn.13356
26. Damoiseaux J.S., Rombouts S.A.R.B., Barkhof F., Scheltens P., Stam C.J., Smith S.M., et al. Consistent resting-state networks across healthy subjects. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2006. No. 103, pp. 13848—13853. DOI:10.1073/pnas.0601417103
27. Ehring T., Watkins E.R. Repetitive Negative Thinking as a Transdiagnostic Process. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 2008. No. 1, pp. 192—205. DOI:10.1521/ijct.2008.1.3.192
28. Faurholt-Jepsen M., Kessing L.V., Munkholm K. Heart rate variability in bipolar disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 2017. No. 73, pp. 68—80. DOI:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.12.007
29. Fox M.D., Snyder A.Z., Vincent J.L., Corbetta M., Van Essen D.C., Raichle M.E. The human brain is intrinsically organized into dynamic, anticorrelated functional networks. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2005. No. 102, pp. 9673—9678. DOI:10.1073/pnas.0504136102
30. Fransson P. Spontaneous low‐frequency BOLD signal fluctuations: An fMRI investigation of the resting‐state default mode of brain function hypothesis. Human Brain Mapping, 2005. No. 26, pp. 15—29. DOI:10.1002/hbm.20113
31. Ghorbani N., Watson P.J., Krauss S.W., Davison H.K., Bing M.N. Private Self-Consciousness Factors: Relationships With Need for Cognition, Locus of Control, and Obsessive Thinking in Iran and the United States. The Journal of Social Psychology, 2004. No. 144, pp. 359—372. DOI:10.3200/SOCP.144.4.359-372
32. Grant A.M., Franklin J., Langford P. The self-reflection and insight scale: a new measure of private self-consciousness. Soc Behav Pers, 2002. No. 30, pp. 821—835. DOI:10.2224/sbp.2002.30.8.821
33. Hu C., Di X., Eickhoff S.B., Zhang M., Peng K., Guo H., et al. Distinct and common aspects of physical and psychological self-representation in the brain: A meta-analysis of self-bias in facial and self-referential judgements. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 2016. No. 61, pp. 197—207. DOI:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.12.003
34. Imperatori C., Farina B., Adenzato M., Valenti E.M., Murgia C., Marca G.D., et al. Default mode network alterations in individuals with high-trait-anxiety: An EEG functional connectivity study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 2019. No. 246, pp. 611—618. DOI:10.1016/j.jad.2018.12.071
35. Jenkins A.C., Mitchell J.P. Medial prefrontal cortex subserves diverse forms of self-reflection. Social Neuroscience, 2011. No. 6, pp. 211—218. DOI:10.1080/17470919.2010.507948
36. Koch C., Wilhelm M., Salzmann S., Rief W., Euteneuer F. A meta-analysis of heart rate variability in major depression. Psychol Med, 2019. No. 49, pp. 1948—1957. DOI:10.1017/S0033291719001351
37. Moran J.M., Kelley W.M., Heatherton T.F. What Can the Organization of the Brain’s Default Mode Network Tell us About Self-Knowledge? Front Hum Neurosci, 2013. No. 7. DOI:10.3389/fnhum.2013.00391
38. Nakajima M., Takano K., Tanno Y. Adaptive functions of self-focused attention: Insight and depressive and anxiety symptoms. Psychiatry Research, 2017. No. 249, pp. 275—280. DOI:10.1016/j.psychres.2017.01.026
39. Ottaviani C., Watson D.R., Meeten F., Makovac E., Garfinkel S.N., Critchley H.D. Neurobiological substrates of cognitive rigidity and autonomic inflexibility in generalized anxiety disorder. Biological Psychology, 2016. No. 119, pp. 31—41. DOI:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2016.06.009
40. Pumprla J., Howorka K., Groves D., Chester M., Nolan J. Functional assessment of heart rate variability: physiological basis and practical applications. International Journal of Cardiology, 2002. No. 84, pp. 1—14. DOI:10.1016/S0167-5273(02)00057-8
41. Rotter J. B. Social learning and clinical psychology. New York: Prentice-Hall, 1954. 466 p.
42. Saviola F., Pappaianni E., Monti A., Grecucci A., Jovicich J., De Pisapia N. Trait and state anxiety are mapped differently in the human brain. Sci Rep, 2020. No. 10, Article DOI:10.1038/s41598-020-68008-z
43. Shaffer F., Ginsberg J.P. An Overview of Heart Rate Variability Metrics and Norms. Front Public Health, 2017. No. 5, pp. 258. DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2017.00258
44. Sizikova T., Durachenko O. Polymodality of reflection: triangular relations between modalities // European Science Review. 2020. № 5—6. Р. 40—48.
45. Spreng R.N., Mar R.A., Kim A.S.N. The Common Neural Basis of Autobiographical Memory, Prospection, Navigation, Theory of Mind, and the Default Mode: A Quantitative Meta-analysis. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 2009. No. 21, pp. 489—510. DOI:10.1162/jocn.2008.21029
46. Tomasi J., Zai C.C., Pouget J.G., Tiwari A.K., Kennedy J.L. Heart rate variability: Evaluating a potential biomarker of anxiety disorders. Psychophysiology, 2024. No. 61, Article DOI:10.1111/psyp.14481
47. Wang C., Wang Y., Lau W.K.W., Wei X., Feng X., Zhang C., et al. Anomalous static and dynamic functional connectivity of amygdala subregions in individuals with high trait anxiety. Depression and Anxiety, 2021. No. 38, pp. 860—873. DOI:10.1002/da.23195
48. Wang Z., Luo Y., Zhang Y., Chen L., Zou Y., Xiao J., et al. Heart rate variability in generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder and panic disorder: A network meta-analysis and systematic review. Journal of Affective Disorders, 2023. No. 330, pp. 259—266. DOI:10.1016/j.jad.2023.03.018
49. Watkins E.R. Constructive and unconstructive repetitive thought. Psychological Bulletin, 2008. No. 134, pp. 163—206. DOI:10.1037/0033-2909.134.2.163
50. Williams D.P., Feeling N.R., Hill L.K., Spangler D.P., Koenig J., Thayer J.F. Resting Heart Rate Variability, Facets of Rumination and Trait Anxiety: Implications for the Perseverative Cognition Hypothesis. Front Hum Neurosci, 2017. No. 11, pp. 520. DOI:10.3389/fnhum.2017.00520
51. Xu J., Van Dam N.T., Feng C., Luo Y., Ai H., Gu R., et al. Anxious brain networks: A coordinate-based activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis of resting-state functional connectivity studies in anxiety. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 2019. No. 96, pp. 21—30. DOI:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.11.005