Changes in resting heart rate variability across the menstrual cycle. (18th June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tenan, Matthew S.; Brothers, R. Matthew; Tweedell, Andrew J.; Hackney, Anthony C.; Griffin, Lisa
• Is Part Of: Psychophysiology. Volume 51:Number 10(2014:Oct.)
• Page Start: 996
• Page End: 1004
• Publication Date: 2014-06-18
• Subjects: Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1111/psyp.12250
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0048-5772

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Heart rate variability (HRV) is a noninvasive indicator of autonomic control. This study examines HRV changes across a normal menstrual cycle and proposes a novel piecewise function controlling for the effects of breathing on HRV spectral parameters. A resting ECG was collected from 13 women at five points in their menstrual cycle. Both heart rate and breathing rate increased across the cycle (<italic>p</italic> &lt; .01) while time‐domain variability decreased (<italic>p</italic> = .04). Use of the piecewise function for breathing rate in HRV spectral analysis was confirmed by a substantial increase in model goodness‐of‐fit. HRV spectral parameters, controlled for breathing with the piecewise function, confirm that the decrease in variability is likely due to a parasympathetic withdrawal, since high frequency HRV decreases (<italic>p</italic> = .02).</p> </abstract>