title: Hopelessness is associated with decreased heart rate variability during championship chess games.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clinical observations suggest that negative affects such as helplessness/hopelessness (HE/HO) may induce autonomic duration; affects were assessed for every move after reconstruction of the games. In all games compiled, 18 situation of intense confidence/optimism and 20 of intense helplessness/hopelessness were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intense affects of HE/HO were associated with decreasing HF-HRV (Fisher exact test, p =.003), increasing "nervousness" (p =.0005), decreasing "optimism" (p =.0005), and decreasing "calmness" (p =.0005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Investigation of championship chess game players with an ELO strength > or = 2300 in a natural field setting revealed increasing HE/HO being associated with reduced HF-HRV suggestive of vagal withdrawal. Thus, our data may help link negative mood states, autonomic nervous system disturbances, and cardiac events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Division Lory, University of Berne Medical School, Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alfons M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: Hartmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schächinger
authors.forename: Rolf H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Adler
authors.forename: Stefan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Goetz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004644:Emotions; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010988:Play and Playthings / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013686:Telemetry; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology