Resting RSA is associated with natural and self-regulated responses to negative emotional stimuli. Academic Article

abstract

• Resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) was assessed among 111 adult participants. These individuals were then asked to watch a positive or negative affective film in either a natural manner or while exaggerating their facial response. Facial reactions to the film were video-recorded and subsequently rated in terms of facial affect. Participants also self-reported the valence of their emotional experience. Results from regression analyses revealed that persons with low resting RSA behaviorally evidenced a more negative facial response to the negative film under natural-watch conditions. Low RSA individuals were also less able to modulate (i.e., amplify) their facial response to the negative film. In terms of self-report measures, persons in the exaggerate condition reported more positive affect to the positive film than did those in the natural-watch condition. Results suggest that cardiac vagal control is inversely associated with negative facial expression but positively associated with facial regulation ability to negative stimuli.

authors

• Schmeichel, Brandon

published proceedings

• Brain Cogn

author list (cited authors)

• Demaree, H. A., Robinson, J. L., Everhart, D. E., & Schmeichel, B. J.

citation count

• 67

complete list of authors

• Demaree, Heath A||Robinson, Jennifer L||Everhart, D Erik||Schmeichel, Brandon J

publisher

• Elsevier  Publisher

published in

• BRAIN AND COGNITION  Journal

keywords

• Adaptation, Psychological
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Arousal
• Emotions
• Facial Expression
• Female
• Heart
• Heart Rate
• Humans
• Male
• Vagus Nerve

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1016/j.bandc.2004.05.001

start page

• 14

end page

• 23

volume

• 56

issue

• 1

URL

• http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2004.05.001