- Email: [email protected]
The effect of false heart rate feedback on self-reports of anxiety and on actual heart rate
CASE
HISTORIES
AND
SHORTER
COMMUNICATIONS
The effect of false heart rate feedback on self-reports of anxiety and on actual heart rate*
I’GTRODUCTION
hliller r[ (II.. (1960) ha\e advocated the use of the feedback loop as a potentiali? useful mechanism in psychological theory and research. Subsequent research using feedback has been characterized by proxlding subjects with Information of some sort regarding ongoing psychological or physiological processes. and then on the process itself. There are two general categories determining the effect of providin g the information of feedback research. First. there is the paradigm in which subjects are presented a genuine (beridical) representation of an ongoing process. Much of the work of this type has come to be known genericall) as biofeedback research and has utilized physiological data as the information made available to the subject (see Barber et ul.. 197 I). A second category of feedback research involves presenting subjects with false (nonveridical) informatlon. Drawing upon the classic study of Schachter and Singer (1961). Valins (1966) proposed that false feedback could lead to cognitive relabeling of arousal such that changes in atlect might be attained. Subsequently. Valins and Ray (1967) produced a clinical analogue study in which they proported to show that false feedback could be used to alter avoidance behavior among snake-fearful subjects. While attempts at replication and/or extension of the Valins and Ray study havr resulted in contlictin, 0 results as well as methodological criticisms (cf.. Borkovec and Glasgovv. 1973; Rosen. Rosen. and Reid, 1971), the use of nonveridical feedback remains a potentially useful tool in the study of fear reduction techniques. The present study was an attempt to further clarify the role of nonveridical feedback in both self-report and physiological data modes. False heart rate feedback was used in reference to presentations of pre\iouslj neutral stimuli (devoid of surplus meaning or conditioning histories). Additionally, a manipulation a’as introduced to vary the valence (i.e. perceived importance) of the feedback information. METHOD
Suhjecrs Forty college students. 24 males and I6 females, were paid for their participation. Their age ranged from 16 to 45 yr with a mean of 22 yr. Equal numbers of males and females were randomly assigned to each of two groups.
Essential pieces of equipment included a 35mm slide projector and three different slides of 21-point geometric shapes developed by Vanderplas and Garvin (1959) and selected for their equally low association value (to minimize potential spontaneous arousal). Adjacent to a viewing screen was a cathode ray oscilloscope (CRO) used to display nonveridical heart rate (HR) feedback. Both HR and respiration (a possible co\ariant of HR) were recorded on a Beckman R4ll multichannel recorder. Procedure Each S was run individually in a single session. While E explained to S that the experiment was primarily physiological in nature, S was fitted with devices for recording both HR and respiration as well as a headset for presentation of further instructions and a soft masking noise. The E then left the room. and tape-recorded instructions informed S that there would next be a lo-min rest period allowing for stabilization of physiological activity. After 10 min had elapsed, the recording informed S that a series of slides of geometric shapes would be forthcoming and that their physiological reactions to the slides would be recorded. Mention was made of the fact that the slides sometimes ellclt anxiety reactions. The two groups of Ss difiered with regard to what they were told about the anxiety elicited by the slides. Each S in a Neutral Valence condition was told that any anxiety generated by the slides was ‘perfectly normal’. while Ss in a Negative Valence condition *This Institute
research was supported by Grant No. MH 19860 awarded of Mental Health, U.S. Public Health Serbice. 251
to the last two authors
by the Kational
\\er: [old thdr .Inulet) reactIons to the sli&s were of ‘some concern‘ since the> !\ere ‘hishI> unusu,~I.‘ EJch 5 ~.li .llso told th;tt A reprsjent,ltlon of his r?l,lttxe HR should occa,lon,ili~ appear on th? CR0 such th,lt 5 soulJ wll if hl> HR hdd Increa&. Jecreasdrne trith reference to the relt perlocI. Each 5 \\a> also informsJ that he would be ~skp instructeJ th,lt s-If-reports on th< se\en-point scale biers to reflect hou he ‘wall> iklt’ and that lx response need not neces%~rll) corresponci uith Information about HR. -\fter completion of instructions. 5 !~sesd each of the three slides 12 times for -1 total oi36 trials. SliJe order was runciom~zcd for each S. and each slide presentation la.ctsd 13 set with an mtertriA intwal of For each S. -15 sec. SonLeridical CR0 feedback was presented durin, u the last 3 xc of each presentation. one of the three slides Iss associated i
~lth CR0 feedback buggestifl: an increawi the third slide \\as alua>s associated with anxiety Arri,ly the slide prcscntatlon Here HR were recorded continuousI>
The self-report data. sho\\n in Fig. I. ucrt’ first anal>zeJ b> means of a three-bra!, analhsis of var,ancr‘ In\oliing Valence. type of HR Feedback. and Trials. LVMe Valence and Trial main etyects were not slgniticant. the main et&t for HR Frsdback was reliablq significant. f(2. 76) = 11.89, p < 0.001. as was the interaction between Trials and Feedback. F(2. 836) = 1.99. p i O.OOJ. Since neither Valence nor its interactions yielded signiticant stTects. the data \\t‘re collapwd across the two talencc conditions for further anal>ki‘s.
G;%/f--f 2
-.-
I--=H 34-
high feedback average feedback low feedback
--*
*
I
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
IO
II
12
TRIALS Fig. 1. Self-report
of an*lety
on a seven-point
scale according
to feedback
conditions
It was apparent that the Feedback etTect was largely localized in the last si.x trials. The data from these trials uere used to determine the extent to which sell&port varied from the anchor point of four. Using against r-tests to compare the mean values over the last siy trials of each of th e three types of frsdback the talus of four, it was found that both the Average and Low Feedback conditions resulted in selfreport r.alues significantly lower than four (t(39) = 6.10. p < 0.001: t(39) = 5.13. p < 0.001. respectively). The mean score for the last six trials in the High Feedback condition was not significantly diRerent than four. The Loiv and .Average Feedback conditions kvere also significantly different from one another o\er the last SIY trials. F( I. ?S) = 7.0-I. p < 0.01.
The HR data bvere scored in terms of beat-by-beat HR every 0.75 SEC for the duration of each I?-set trial. Hence. I6 scores ivere obtained for each .S over each of the II trials. These data were then subjected to a four-\vay analjsls of variance (b’alencc. Feedback, Trials. and Beats,Min) with no significant main effects HR rather than or interactions obtaining. However. \lsuaI inspection of the HR data su,,Guest return-to-mean
CASE HISTORIES AS!, SHORTER COSt41L~lC~TIO’.s
75’
beat-bb-beat scores nught probe to be an intsresrlng and potentialI> useful measure III future research. While presentation of all the HR data would be inapproprldte at present It is Interestin: to note that the rank order of deceleration rats is Low-Feedback > -\\erage Feedback > High Feedbach and 1s particulari) clear in the Negative Valence condition. This outcome is suygcsti\ely simtlar to patterns obtatncd in certam types of classical ‘conditioning research emplo! Ins HR (c.f. Headrick and Graham. 1969). DISCLSSIOS
The results of the study indicate that thz effects of false feedback were localized in the self-report mode and had no reliable effect upon actual HR. False feedback suggestm g IOU Iebels of arousal to previousI> neutral stimuli resulted in reports of anxiety reliably below the defined anchor point. as did (to a lesser extent) feedback suggesting average arousal levels. OnI\ feedback indicating high arousal resulted In selfreports of anxtety which \\ere not diKerent from the anchor point. The pattern of results as well as the debriefing of Ss suggest that the anchor pomt may hare been spuriouslq high and that Ss may ha\e been anxious during the rest period. The resulting data patterns mu) have been due to a cclline etfect such that feedback indicllting high arousal did not lead to self-reports higher than the anchor point. while feedback of average or IOK arousal resulted in substantially rsduced self-reports of anxiet). Hence, a distortion of the anchor point may habe resulted in the tmplvzution that only a negative feedback loop was operative: a possible posltlve feedback loop could only be demonstrated in future research if an anchor point of ysater validity could first be established. The attempt to manipulate valence of the feedback was inconsequential. although ethical constraints prevented a stronger manipulation from bein e implemented. It is conceivable that more ominous implications of reacting to neutral stimuli would lead to amplitication of the feedback effect. but such a possibilit) WIII requxe verification in future research.
BAK~ER T. X.. DICARA L. V., K.AMIYA J.. h!lLLER N. E.. SHAPIRO D. and STOYV.-\ J. (1970) Biofietlhuck CIA .%//~Y~IIw~~~. Aldinc ,Athcrton. Chicago. B~KKO~EC T. D.. and GL.ASGOW R. E. (1973) Boundxy condittons of false heart-rate feedback etrects on avoidance behavior: A resolution of discrepant results. Brl~czr. Rrs. & Tlwrup~ 11. 171-175. HEADRKI CM. LV.. and GRAHAM F. K. (1969) Multiple-component heart rate responses conditioned under paced respiration. J. rxp. P~wlrol. 79, 1S6-19-I. MILLER G. A., GALASTI-R E. and PKIBKM K. H. (1960) Plms cud rhr Srructcw of Beh~iur. Holt. Rlnchart & Winston. NW York. ROSI:X G. hl.. ROSI.~ E.. and RI~III J. 13.(1977) Coanitlw desensitization and avoidance behavior: A w-evaluation. SCH.ACtlTER S.. and SISGW J. E. (1962) Copnitive, social. and physiological determinants of emotional state. P.sdwf. RL’L..69 379-399. VALINS~ S. (1966) Coinitive effects of false heart-rate feedback. J. Prr.wr~ sot. Ps~hol. 1, 40040S. VAI.ISS S., and RAY A. A. (1967) Efficts of cognitive desensitization on avoidance behavior. J. Prrson. sot. Ps~c/Io~. 7, 345-350. VASDERPLAS J. hl.. and GAKVIS E. A. (1959) The association value of random shapes. J. r.v\-p.P.s~hol. 57, 147-151.
HISTORIES
AND
SHORTER
COMMUNICATIONS
The effect of false heart rate feedback on self-reports of anxiety and on actual heart rate*
I’GTRODUCTION
hliller r[ (II.. (1960) ha\e advocated the use of the feedback loop as a potentiali? useful mechanism in psychological theory and research. Subsequent research using feedback has been characterized by proxlding subjects with Information of some sort regarding ongoing psychological or physiological processes. and then on the process itself. There are two general categories determining the effect of providin g the information of feedback research. First. there is the paradigm in which subjects are presented a genuine (beridical) representation of an ongoing process. Much of the work of this type has come to be known genericall) as biofeedback research and has utilized physiological data as the information made available to the subject (see Barber et ul.. 197 I). A second category of feedback research involves presenting subjects with false (nonveridical) informatlon. Drawing upon the classic study of Schachter and Singer (1961). Valins (1966) proposed that false feedback could lead to cognitive relabeling of arousal such that changes in atlect might be attained. Subsequently. Valins and Ray (1967) produced a clinical analogue study in which they proported to show that false feedback could be used to alter avoidance behavior among snake-fearful subjects. While attempts at replication and/or extension of the Valins and Ray study havr resulted in contlictin, 0 results as well as methodological criticisms (cf.. Borkovec and Glasgovv. 1973; Rosen. Rosen. and Reid, 1971), the use of nonveridical feedback remains a potentially useful tool in the study of fear reduction techniques. The present study was an attempt to further clarify the role of nonveridical feedback in both self-report and physiological data modes. False heart rate feedback was used in reference to presentations of pre\iouslj neutral stimuli (devoid of surplus meaning or conditioning histories). Additionally, a manipulation a’as introduced to vary the valence (i.e. perceived importance) of the feedback information. METHOD
Suhjecrs Forty college students. 24 males and I6 females, were paid for their participation. Their age ranged from 16 to 45 yr with a mean of 22 yr. Equal numbers of males and females were randomly assigned to each of two groups.
Essential pieces of equipment included a 35mm slide projector and three different slides of 21-point geometric shapes developed by Vanderplas and Garvin (1959) and selected for their equally low association value (to minimize potential spontaneous arousal). Adjacent to a viewing screen was a cathode ray oscilloscope (CRO) used to display nonveridical heart rate (HR) feedback. Both HR and respiration (a possible co\ariant of HR) were recorded on a Beckman R4ll multichannel recorder. Procedure Each S was run individually in a single session. While E explained to S that the experiment was primarily physiological in nature, S was fitted with devices for recording both HR and respiration as well as a headset for presentation of further instructions and a soft masking noise. The E then left the room. and tape-recorded instructions informed S that there would next be a lo-min rest period allowing for stabilization of physiological activity. After 10 min had elapsed, the recording informed S that a series of slides of geometric shapes would be forthcoming and that their physiological reactions to the slides would be recorded. Mention was made of the fact that the slides sometimes ellclt anxiety reactions. The two groups of Ss difiered with regard to what they were told about the anxiety elicited by the slides. Each S in a Neutral Valence condition was told that any anxiety generated by the slides was ‘perfectly normal’. while Ss in a Negative Valence condition *This Institute
research was supported by Grant No. MH 19860 awarded of Mental Health, U.S. Public Health Serbice. 251
to the last two authors
by the Kational
\\er: [old thdr .Inulet) reactIons to the sli&s were of ‘some concern‘ since the> !\ere ‘hishI> unusu,~I.‘ EJch 5 ~.li .llso told th;tt A reprsjent,ltlon of his r?l,lttxe HR should occa,lon,ili~ appear on th? CR0 such th,lt 5 soulJ wll if hl> HR hdd Increa&. Jecreas
~lth CR0 feedback buggestifl: an increawi the third slide \\as alua>s associated with anxiety Arri,ly the slide prcscntatlon Here HR were recorded continuousI>
The self-report data. sho\\n in Fig. I. ucrt’ first anal>zeJ b> means of a three-bra!, analhsis of var,ancr‘ In\oliing Valence. type of HR Feedback. and Trials. LVMe Valence and Trial main etyects were not slgniticant. the main et&t for HR Frsdback was reliablq significant. f(2. 76) = 11.89, p < 0.001. as was the interaction between Trials and Feedback. F(2. 836) = 1.99. p i O.OOJ. Since neither Valence nor its interactions yielded signiticant stTects. the data \\t‘re collapwd across the two talencc conditions for further anal>ki‘s.
G;%/f--f 2
-.-
I--=H 34-
high feedback average feedback low feedback
--*
*
I
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
IO
II
12
TRIALS Fig. 1. Self-report
of an*lety
on a seven-point
scale according
to feedback
conditions
It was apparent that the Feedback etTect was largely localized in the last si.x trials. The data from these trials uere used to determine the extent to which sell&port varied from the anchor point of four. Using against r-tests to compare the mean values over the last siy trials of each of th e three types of frsdback the talus of four, it was found that both the Average and Low Feedback conditions resulted in selfreport r.alues significantly lower than four (t(39) = 6.10. p < 0.001: t(39) = 5.13. p < 0.001. respectively). The mean score for the last six trials in the High Feedback condition was not significantly diRerent than four. The Loiv and .Average Feedback conditions kvere also significantly different from one another o\er the last SIY trials. F( I. ?S) = 7.0-I. p < 0.01.
The HR data bvere scored in terms of beat-by-beat HR every 0.75 SEC for the duration of each I?-set trial. Hence. I6 scores ivere obtained for each .S over each of the II trials. These data were then subjected to a four-\vay analjsls of variance (b’alencc. Feedback, Trials. and Beats,Min) with no significant main effects HR rather than or interactions obtaining. However. \lsuaI inspection of the HR data su,,Guest return-to-mean
CASE HISTORIES AS!, SHORTER COSt41L~lC~TIO’.s
75’
beat-bb-beat scores nught probe to be an intsresrlng and potentialI> useful measure III future research. While presentation of all the HR data would be inapproprldte at present It is Interestin: to note that the rank order of deceleration rats is Low-Feedback > -\\erage Feedback > High Feedbach and 1s particulari) clear in the Negative Valence condition. This outcome is suygcsti\ely simtlar to patterns obtatncd in certam types of classical ‘conditioning research emplo! Ins HR (c.f. Headrick and Graham. 1969). DISCLSSIOS
The results of the study indicate that thz effects of false feedback were localized in the self-report mode and had no reliable effect upon actual HR. False feedback suggestm g IOU Iebels of arousal to previousI> neutral stimuli resulted in reports of anxiety reliably below the defined anchor point. as did (to a lesser extent) feedback suggesting average arousal levels. OnI\ feedback indicating high arousal resulted In selfreports of anxtety which \\ere not diKerent from the anchor point. The pattern of results as well as the debriefing of Ss suggest that the anchor pomt may hare been spuriouslq high and that Ss may ha\e been anxious during the rest period. The resulting data patterns mu) have been due to a cclline etfect such that feedback indicllting high arousal did not lead to self-reports higher than the anchor point. while feedback of average or IOK arousal resulted in substantially rsduced self-reports of anxiet). Hence, a distortion of the anchor point may habe resulted in the tmplvzution that only a negative feedback loop was operative: a possible posltlve feedback loop could only be demonstrated in future research if an anchor point of ysater validity could first be established. The attempt to manipulate valence of the feedback was inconsequential. although ethical constraints prevented a stronger manipulation from bein e implemented. It is conceivable that more ominous implications of reacting to neutral stimuli would lead to amplitication of the feedback effect. but such a possibilit) WIII requxe verification in future research.
BAK~ER T. X.. DICARA L. V., K.AMIYA J.. h!lLLER N. E.. SHAPIRO D. and STOYV.-\ J. (1970) Biofietlhuck CIA .%//~Y~IIw~~~. Aldinc ,Athcrton. Chicago. B~KKO~EC T. D.. and GL.ASGOW R. E. (1973) Boundxy condittons of false heart-rate feedback etrects on avoidance behavior: A resolution of discrepant results. Brl~czr. Rrs. & Tlwrup~ 11. 171-175. HEADRKI CM. LV.. and GRAHAM F. K. (1969) Multiple-component heart rate responses conditioned under paced respiration. J. rxp. P~wlrol. 79, 1S6-19-I. MILLER G. A., GALASTI-R E. and PKIBKM K. H. (1960) Plms cud rhr Srructcw of Beh~iur. Holt. Rlnchart & Winston. NW York. ROSI:X G. hl.. ROSI.~ E.. and RI~III J. 13.(1977) Coanitlw desensitization and avoidance behavior: A w-evaluation. SCH.ACtlTER S.. and SISGW J. E. (1962) Copnitive, social. and physiological determinants of emotional state. P.sdwf. RL’L..69 379-399. VALINS~ S. (1966) Coinitive effects of false heart-rate feedback. J. Prr.wr~ sot. Ps~hol. 1, 40040S. VAI.ISS S., and RAY A. A. (1967) Efficts of cognitive desensitization on avoidance behavior. J. Prrson. sot. Ps~c/Io~. 7, 345-350. VASDERPLAS J. hl.. and GAKVIS E. A. (1959) The association value of random shapes. J. r.v\-p.P.s~hol. 57, 147-151.