Systematic Literature Review: Heart Rate Variability (HRV) as a Neurobiological Biomarker of Mindfulness Effects on Emotion Regulation
International Journal of Science Education and Cultural Studies October 20, 2025 Anggita Rana Sasmita Lestari, Atika Rahmania El Barusi 1 citation
Mindfulness interventions—including brief, intensive, and online programs—increase parasympathetic-related heart rate variability measures, particularly RMSSD and high-frequency power, and reduce emotional distress such as anxiety and stress. A review of 40 empirical studies from 2020 to 2025 finds these effects across randomized controlled trials, within-subject, and longitudinal designs. However, effect sizes vary due to differences in HRV recording durations, resting versus active tasks, and heterogeneous samples. Heart rate variability shows promise as a biomarker for mindfulness-based emotion regulation, especially when standardized protocols are used. Future work should employ longer follow-ups, rigorous randomized controlled trials, and integrate multi-modal physiological and psychological measurement across diverse populations.