Evaluating High and Low Heart Rate Variability Response and Neurocognitive Performance in Workers: An Exploratory Study

Ardalan Eslami; Najah Therese Nassif; Sara Lal

doi:10.3390/bs13090742

Evaluating High and Low Heart Rate Variability Response and Neurocognitive Performance in Workers: An Exploratory Study

Behav Sci (Basel). 2023 Sep 6;13(9):742. doi: 10.3390/bs13090742.

Authors

Ardalan Eslami^{1

2}, Najah Therese Nassif², Sara Lal^{1

3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Medical Innovation Neuroscience Data-Analytics (MIND) Unit, TD School, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney 2007, Australia.
² School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, Sydney 2007, Australia.
³ School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia.
⁴ School of Public Health, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, Sydney 2007, Australia.

Abstract

Heart rate variability (HRV) has the potential to be a predicting factor of cognitive performance. The present research aimed to explore the differences in neurocognitive performance of workers with high HRV and low HRV. A total of 48 white-collar workers and 53 blue-collar workers were assessed. An electrocardiogram was used to obtain HRV data, whereby a 10 min baseline and an active (neuropsychological task) recording were taken. Median splits were performed on data to obtain high- and low-HRV groups. The Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery, specifically, the spatial working memory, attention-switching task, rapid visual processing, and spatial span were used. Higher HRV (RMSSD and HF) was linked to better neurocognitive performance measures. Interestingly, the blue- and white-collar groups exhibited different correlations and, in some cases, showed an inverse relationship with the same variables. The differences observed in the present study demonstrate the importance of assessing task-dependent HRV parameters.

Keywords: attention; autonomic nervous system; cognitive function; heart rate variability; high HRV; low HRV; working memory.

Grants and funding

This research received funding under the Australian Government Research Training Program.