Effect of Physical Contact (Hand-Holding) on Heart Rate Variability
Heart-s electric field can be measured anywhere on
the surface of the body (ECG). When individuals touch, one person-s
ECG signal can be registered in other person-s EEG and elsewhere
on his body. Now, the aim of this study was to test the hypothesis
that physical contact (hand-holding) of two persons changes their
heart rate variability. Subjects were sixteen healthy female (age: 20-
26) which divided into eight sets. In each sets, we had two friends
that they passed intimacy test of J.sternberg. ECG of two subjects
(each set) acquired for 5 minutes before hand-holding (as control
group) and 5 minutes during they held their hands (as experimental
group). Then heart rate variability signals were extracted from
subjects' ECG and analyzed in linear feature space (time and
frequency domain) and nonlinear feature space. Considering the
results, we conclude that physical contact (hand-holding of two
friends) increases parasympathetic activity, as indicate by increase
SD1, SD1/SD2, HF and MF power (p<0.05) and decreases
sympathetic activity, as indicate by decrease LF power (p<0.01) and
LF/HF ratio (p<0.05).
[1] R. McCraty, M. Atkinson, D. Tomasino, W.Tiller, "The Electricity of
Touch: Detection and measurement of cardiac energy exchange between
people," In: K.H. Pribram, ed. Brain and Values: Is a Biological Science
of Values Possible. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates,
Publishers, 1998: 359-379.
[2] R. McCraty, "The Energetic Heart: Bioelectromagnetic Communication
Within and Between People," Chapter published in: Clinical
Applications of Bioelectromagnetic Medicine, edited by Rosch P J and
Markov M S. New York: Marcel Dekker: 541-562, 2004.
[3] R. McCraty, "The Scientific Role of the Heart in Learning and
Performance," HeartMath Research Center, Institute of HeartMath,
Publication No. 02-030, Boulder Creek, CA, 2002.
[4] J.I Lacey and B.C. Lacey , "Two-way communication between the heart
and the brain: Significance of time within the cardiac cycle," American
Psychologist, February 1978; 99-113.
[5] W.A. Tiller, R. McCraty, M. Atkinson, "Cardiac coherence: a new,
noninvasive measure of autonomic nervous system order," Alternative
Therapies Health Med, 1996; 2:52-65.
[6] D. Childre, R. Mccraty, M. Atkinson, "Method and Apparatus for
Facilitating Physiological Coherence and Autonomic Balance," 2000.
Available: http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20090137915.
[7] R. McCraty, "Influence of Cardiac Afferent Input on Heart-Brain
Synchronization and Cognitive Performance," International Journal of
Psychophysiology, 45(1-2):72-73, 2002.
[8] R. McCraty, M. Atkinson, W.A. Tiller, G. Rein, A.D. Watkins, "The
effects of emotions on short term heart rate variability using power
spectrum analysis," American Journal of Cardiology, 1995; 76:1089-
1093.
[9] J. Pan and W.J. Tompkins, "A Real-Time QRS Detection Algorithm,"
IEEE Transactions On Biomedical Engineering, VOL. BME-32, NO. 3,
March 1985.
[10] Mika P. Tarvainen and Juha-Pekka Niskanen. User-s Guide of Kubios
HRV version 2.0. Biosignal Analysis and Medical Imaging Group
(BSAMIG). 2008. Available: http://kubios.uku.fi.
[11] S.L. Marple, "Digital Spectral Analysis," Prentice-Hall International,
1987.
[12] M. Brennan, M. Palaniswami, and P. Kamen , "Do existing measures of
Poincar'e plot geometry reflect nonlinear features of heart rate
variability," IEEE Trans Biomed Eng, 48(11):1342-1347, November
2001.
[13] S. Carrasco, M.J. Cait'an, R. Gonz'alez, and O. Y'anez, "Correlation
among Poincar'e plot indexes and time and frequency domain measures
of heart rate variability," J Med Eng Technol, 25(6):240-248,
November/December 2001.
[14] J.A. Richman. and J.R. Moorman, "Physiological time-series analysis
using approximate entropy and sample entropy," Am J Physiol,
278:H2039-H2049, 2000.
[15] Y. Fusheng, H. Bo, and T. Qingyu, "Approximate entropy and its
application in biosignal analysis," InM. Akay, editor, Nonlinear
Biomedical Signal Processing: Dynamic Analysis and Modeling, volume
II, chapter 3, pages 72-91. IEEE Press, New York, 2001.
[16] B. Henry, N. Lovell, and F. Camacho, "Nonlinear dynamics time series
analysis," In M. Akay, editor, Nonlinear Biomedical Signal Processing:
Dynamic Analysis and Modeling, volume II, chapter 1, pages 1-39.
IEEE Press, New York, 2001.
[17] C.-K. Peng, S. Havlin, H.E. Stanley., and A.L.Goldberger,
"Quantification of scaling exponents and crossover phenomena in
nonstationary heartbeat time series," Chaos, 5:82-87, 1995.
[18] T. Penzel, J.W. Kantelhardt, L. Grote, J.-H. Peter, and A. Bunde,
"Comparison of detrended fluctuation analysis and spectral analysis for
heart rate variability in sleep and sleep apnea," IEEE Trans Biomed Eng,
50(10):1143-1151, October 2003.
[19] M.P. Tulppo, T.H. Mäkikallio, T.E.S. Takala, T. Seppänen, H.V.
Huikuri, "Quantitative beat-to-beat analysis of heart rate dynamics
during exercise," Am. J. Physiol, vol. 271, pp. H244-H252, 1996.
[20] N. Jafarnia-Dabanlooa, D.C. McLernona, H. Zhangb, A. Ayatollahic, V.
Johari-Majd, "A modified Zeeman model for producing HRV signals
and its application to ECG signal generation", Elsevier Ltd, 2006.
[21] S. Akselrod, D. Gordon, F.A. Ubel, D.C. Shannon, A.C. Barger, R.J.
Conen, "Power spectrum analysis of heart rate fluctuation: a quantitative
probe of beat-to-beat cardiovascular control," Science, 1981, 213:220-
222.
[1] R. McCraty, M. Atkinson, D. Tomasino, W.Tiller, "The Electricity of
Touch: Detection and measurement of cardiac energy exchange between
people," In: K.H. Pribram, ed. Brain and Values: Is a Biological Science
of Values Possible. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates,
Publishers, 1998: 359-379.
[2] R. McCraty, "The Energetic Heart: Bioelectromagnetic Communication
Within and Between People," Chapter published in: Clinical
Applications of Bioelectromagnetic Medicine, edited by Rosch P J and
Markov M S. New York: Marcel Dekker: 541-562, 2004.
[3] R. McCraty, "The Scientific Role of the Heart in Learning and
Performance," HeartMath Research Center, Institute of HeartMath,
Publication No. 02-030, Boulder Creek, CA, 2002.
[4] J.I Lacey and B.C. Lacey , "Two-way communication between the heart
and the brain: Significance of time within the cardiac cycle," American
Psychologist, February 1978; 99-113.
[5] W.A. Tiller, R. McCraty, M. Atkinson, "Cardiac coherence: a new,
noninvasive measure of autonomic nervous system order," Alternative
Therapies Health Med, 1996; 2:52-65.
[6] D. Childre, R. Mccraty, M. Atkinson, "Method and Apparatus for
Facilitating Physiological Coherence and Autonomic Balance," 2000.
Available: http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20090137915.
[7] R. McCraty, "Influence of Cardiac Afferent Input on Heart-Brain
Synchronization and Cognitive Performance," International Journal of
Psychophysiology, 45(1-2):72-73, 2002.
[8] R. McCraty, M. Atkinson, W.A. Tiller, G. Rein, A.D. Watkins, "The
effects of emotions on short term heart rate variability using power
spectrum analysis," American Journal of Cardiology, 1995; 76:1089-
1093.
[9] J. Pan and W.J. Tompkins, "A Real-Time QRS Detection Algorithm,"
IEEE Transactions On Biomedical Engineering, VOL. BME-32, NO. 3,
March 1985.
[10] Mika P. Tarvainen and Juha-Pekka Niskanen. User-s Guide of Kubios
HRV version 2.0. Biosignal Analysis and Medical Imaging Group
(BSAMIG). 2008. Available: http://kubios.uku.fi.
[11] S.L. Marple, "Digital Spectral Analysis," Prentice-Hall International,
1987.
[12] M. Brennan, M. Palaniswami, and P. Kamen , "Do existing measures of
Poincar'e plot geometry reflect nonlinear features of heart rate
variability," IEEE Trans Biomed Eng, 48(11):1342-1347, November
2001.
[13] S. Carrasco, M.J. Cait'an, R. Gonz'alez, and O. Y'anez, "Correlation
among Poincar'e plot indexes and time and frequency domain measures
of heart rate variability," J Med Eng Technol, 25(6):240-248,
November/December 2001.
[14] J.A. Richman. and J.R. Moorman, "Physiological time-series analysis
using approximate entropy and sample entropy," Am J Physiol,
278:H2039-H2049, 2000.
[15] Y. Fusheng, H. Bo, and T. Qingyu, "Approximate entropy and its
application in biosignal analysis," InM. Akay, editor, Nonlinear
Biomedical Signal Processing: Dynamic Analysis and Modeling, volume
II, chapter 3, pages 72-91. IEEE Press, New York, 2001.
[16] B. Henry, N. Lovell, and F. Camacho, "Nonlinear dynamics time series
analysis," In M. Akay, editor, Nonlinear Biomedical Signal Processing:
Dynamic Analysis and Modeling, volume II, chapter 1, pages 1-39.
IEEE Press, New York, 2001.
[17] C.-K. Peng, S. Havlin, H.E. Stanley., and A.L.Goldberger,
"Quantification of scaling exponents and crossover phenomena in
nonstationary heartbeat time series," Chaos, 5:82-87, 1995.
[18] T. Penzel, J.W. Kantelhardt, L. Grote, J.-H. Peter, and A. Bunde,
"Comparison of detrended fluctuation analysis and spectral analysis for
heart rate variability in sleep and sleep apnea," IEEE Trans Biomed Eng,
50(10):1143-1151, October 2003.
[19] M.P. Tulppo, T.H. Mäkikallio, T.E.S. Takala, T. Seppänen, H.V.
Huikuri, "Quantitative beat-to-beat analysis of heart rate dynamics
during exercise," Am. J. Physiol, vol. 271, pp. H244-H252, 1996.
[20] N. Jafarnia-Dabanlooa, D.C. McLernona, H. Zhangb, A. Ayatollahic, V.
Johari-Majd, "A modified Zeeman model for producing HRV signals
and its application to ECG signal generation", Elsevier Ltd, 2006.
[21] S. Akselrod, D. Gordon, F.A. Ubel, D.C. Shannon, A.C. Barger, R.J.
Conen, "Power spectrum analysis of heart rate fluctuation: a quantitative
probe of beat-to-beat cardiovascular control," Science, 1981, 213:220-
222.
@article{"International Journal of Medical, Medicine and Health Sciences:56647", author = "T. Pishbin and S.M.P. Firoozabadi and N. Jafarnia Dabanloo and F. Mohammadi and S. Koozehgari", title = "Effect of Physical Contact (Hand-Holding) on Heart Rate Variability", abstract = "Heart-s electric field can be measured anywhere on
the surface of the body (ECG). When individuals touch, one person-s
ECG signal can be registered in other person-s EEG and elsewhere
on his body. Now, the aim of this study was to test the hypothesis
that physical contact (hand-holding) of two persons changes their
heart rate variability. Subjects were sixteen healthy female (age: 20-
26) which divided into eight sets. In each sets, we had two friends
that they passed intimacy test of J.sternberg. ECG of two subjects
(each set) acquired for 5 minutes before hand-holding (as control
group) and 5 minutes during they held their hands (as experimental
group). Then heart rate variability signals were extracted from
subjects' ECG and analyzed in linear feature space (time and
frequency domain) and nonlinear feature space. Considering the
results, we conclude that physical contact (hand-holding of two
friends) increases parasympathetic activity, as indicate by increase
SD1, SD1/SD2, HF and MF power (p", keywords = "Autonomic nervous system (ANS), Hand- holding,Heart rate variability (HRV), Power spectral density analysis.", volume = "4", number = "10", pages = "519-5", }
