【Paper Published】Research Paper Published in Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback
Utsunomiya University, Faculty of Collaborative Education
Utsunomiya University, Faculty of Collaborative Education
Assistant Professor Yuki Matsuura
Lecturer Genta Ochi
A research group led by Assistant Professor Yuki Matsuura from Utsunomiya University's Faculty of Collaborative Education and Lecturer Genta Ochi from our lab published research findings in the international journal "Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback" on applied psychophysiology and biofeedback: "The Potential of Heart Rate Variability Monitoring for Mental Health Assessment in Top Wheel Gymnastics Athletes: A Single Case Design." This study monitored mental health and morning heart rate information for 20 months in one Japanese representative wheel gymnastics athlete with world championship experience, and clarified that heart rate variability measured in standing posture upon waking, one type of heart rate information, is related to fluctuations in individual mental health. This outcome is one of the few single-case studies demonstrating that morning heart rate variability is useful as a biomarker for predicting mental health decline in athletes.
This research was conducted as a "2022 Niigata University of Health and Welfare Joint Research Project."
Research Highlights
- Heart rate variability has been suggested as a conditioning indicator because it is affected by stress, but its usefulness remained questionable due to large individual differences.
- This study clarified through a 20-month single-case study that heart rate variability measured upon waking in an elite wheel gymnastics athlete is related to changes in individual mental health.
- In particular, it was newly demonstrated that heart rate variability measured in standing position after waking may be useful as a biomarker for predicting mental health decline.
Published Paper
【Title】
The Potential of Heart Rate Variability Monitoring for Mental Health Assessment in Top Wheel Gymnastics Athletes: A Single Case Design
【Authors】
Yuki Matsuura, Genta Ochi
【Journal】Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback