Muscle tone and default heart rate correlate with psychological outcomes
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
confidence 96/100
Extensive empirical research and meta-analyses demonstrate that cardiac autonomic regulation, specifically indexed by heart rate variability and vagal tone, correlates significantly with psychological outcomes such as stress, anxiety, and self-regulation.
Evidence for · 7
Stress and Heart Rate Variability: A Meta-Analysis and Review of the Literature
2018 · cited by 2,276
This study supports the claim by establishing heart rate variability as an objective indicator of psychological stress and health.
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More for · 6
Heart Rate Variability and Cardiac Vagal Tone in Psychophysiological Research – Recommendations for Experiment Planning, Data Analysis, and Data Reporting
2017 · cited by 2,248
This review highlights how cardiac vagal tone indexes the parasympathetic nervous system, linking it to self-regulation at cognitive and emotional levels.
Heart Rate Variability, Prefrontal Neural Function, and Cognitive Performance: The Neurovisceral Integration Perspective on Self-regulation, Adaptation, and Health
2009 · cited by 1,856
This paper links individual differences in heart rate variability to prefrontal neural function and performance on executive-function tasks.
Anxiety Disorders are Associated with Reduced Heart Rate Variability: A Meta-Analysis
2014 · cited by 1,055
This meta-analysis demonstrates that anxiety disorders are systematically associated with reduced heart rate variability.
Heart-Rate Variability—More than Heart Beats?
2017 · cited by 409
This article discusses integrative models where heart rate variability serves as a bridge reflecting both brain states and psychological experiences.
From the heart to the mind: cardiac vagal tone modulates top-down and bottom-up visual perception and attention to emotional stimuli
2014 · cited by 353
This paper reviews how cardiac vagal tone modulates emotional processing and attention, supporting its connection to psychological outcomes.
Vagal Tank Theory: The Three Rs of Cardiac Vagal Control Functioning – Resting, Reactivity, and Recovery
2018 · cited by 302
This study proposes vagal tank theory, positioning cardiac vagal control as a physiological indicator and resource for psychological self-regulation.