How Emotions Affect Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia

Abstract

Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) is a measure of heart rate variability in relation to respiration. The current study investigated how the different induced emotional states (i.e., amusement, anger, disgust, happiness, fear, and sadness) affect RSA. This was done by comparing resting RSA to that occurring while watching short film clips intended to induce emotional states. It was hypothesized that RSA would be lower when negative emotions are induced and higher when positive emotions are induced. A difference between the resting RSA and RSA measured during emotion induction was also anticipated. Results indicated a marginally significant difference in RSA between film clip 1 and resting with eyes open and between film clip 1 and film clip 2. There was also a trend in RSA between male and female participants.