Heart Rate Variability (HRV) biofeedback: A new training approach for operator’s performance enhancement
Abstract: The widespread
implementation of advanced and complex systems requires predominantly
operators’ cognitive functions and less importance of human manual control. On
the other hand, most operators perform their cognitive functions below their
peak cognitive capacity level due to fatigue, stress, and boredom. Thus, there
is a need to improve their cognitive functions during work. The goal of this
paper is to present a psychophysiology training approach derived from
cardiovascular response named heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback.
Description of resonant frequency biofeedback - a specific HRV training
protocol - is discussed as well as its supported researches for the performance
enhancement. HRV biofeedback training works by teaching people to recognize
their involuntary HRV and to control patterns of this physiological response.
The training is directed to increase HRV amplitude that promotes autonomic
nervous system balance. This balance is associated with improved physiological
functioning as well as psychological benefits. Most individuals can learn HRV biofeedback
training easily which involves slowing the breathing rate (around six
breaths/min) to each individual’s resonant frequency at which the amplitude of
HRV is maximized. Maximal control over HRV can be obtained in most people after
approximately four sessions of training. Recent studies have demonstrated the
effectiveness of HRV biofeedback to the improvement of some cognitive functions
in both simulated and real industrial operators.
Author: Auditya Purwandini
Sutarto, Muhammad Nubli Abdul Wahab, Nora Mat Zin
Journal Code: jptindustrigg100016
