Effects of instructed meditation augmented by computer-rendered artificial virtual environment on heart rate variability.
Christina Kazzi, Conner Blackmore, Fatemeh Shirbani, Isabella Tan, Mark Butlin, Alberto P Avolio, Edward Barin
Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual International Conference July 1, 2018 DOI: 10.1109/embc.2018.8512816 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental within-subjects study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 16 |
| Population | Healthy adults |
| Intervention | Instructed meditation augmented by a virtual environment |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Autonomic nervous system Humans Hand strength Blood pressure Heart rate Software Adult Middle aged Female Virtual reality |
| Key findings | In healthy participants, meditation in a virtual environment had no significant effect on blood pressure or heart rate variability during rest, but after a mental arithmetic stress task it maintained higher low-frequency heart rate variability power (66 vs. 55 normalized units), lower high-frequency power (34 vs. 44), and a higher low-to-high frequency ratio (2.4 vs. 1.6) compared with seated rest. The authors suggest the virtual environment may act as a stimulatory driver for autonomic activity and blood pressure. |
Abstract
Previous research has supported the use of virtual reality (VR) to decrease stress, anxiety, perceptions of pain, and increase positive affect. However, the effect of VR on blood pressure (BP) and autonomic function in healthy populations have not been explored. This study quantifies the effect of instructed meditation augmented by a virtual environment (VE) on BP and heart rate variability (HRV) during rest and following physical (isometric handgrip) or mental (serial sevens subtraction) stress. Sixteen healthy participants underwent all conditions, and those that responded to the stress tests were included in the analysis of stress recovery. Results showed that under resting conditions, VE had no significant effect on BP or HRV when compared to seated rest and the VE video on a 2D screen. Following serial sevens, VE maintained the increased low frequency (LF) power of HRV $( 66 \pm 4$ normalized units (n.u.)) compared to seated rest $( 55 \pm 5\mathrm {n}$.u., $\mathrm {p}=0.0060)$; VE maintained the decreased high frequency (HF) power of HRV $( 34 \pm 4\mathrm {n}$.u.) compared to seated rest $( 44 \pm 5\mathrm {n}$.u., $\mathrm {p}=0.014)$; and VE maintained the increased LF/HF ratio $( 2.4 \pm 0.5)$ compared to seated rest $( 1.6 \pm 0.3$, $\mathrm {p}=0.012)$. Hence, after mental stress, VE sustains the increased sympathetic drive and reduced parasympathetic drive. VE may act as a stimulatory driver for autonomic activity and BP. Further studies are required to investigate the effect of different types of VE on BP and autonomic function.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Cancer patients (clinical intervention study) | 2003 | Mixed methods: scale development, correlational, quasi-experimental, laboratory, experience-sampling, and clinical intervention study | |
| Loving-kindness meditation increases social connectedness. | 2008 | Controlled laboratory experiment | |
| Mindfulness and mind-wandering: Finding convergence through opposing constructs. | 2012 | Two studies: correlational study and experimental study | |
| Mental Training Enhances Attentional Stability: Neural and Behavioral Evidence | 2009 | Experimental study | |
| Mindfulness meditation and substance use in an incarcerated population. Incarcerated population | 2006 | Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual control condition |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Developing VR Clinical Protocols for Integrating Virtual Reality Meditation Training in Adolescent Mental Health Settings CHI Extended Abstracts April 13, 2026
- Challenges and Opportunities of Immersive Technologies for Mindfulness Meditation: A Systematic Review Frontiers in Virtual Reality April 27, 2021