Comparison of heart rate variability and heart rate between individuals with different emotional stability in two situations.
OBJECTIVE
To compare heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate (HR) between individuals with different emotional stabilities in two situations and to discuss the relationship between situation, emotional stability and HRV.


METHODS
Ninety-six healthy male flying students were assessed after 60 h flying exercises by senior pilots using Criterion Assessment Scale of Emotional Stability of Flying Cadets (CASESFC) compiled by our department. They were divided into groups of high emotional stability and low stability. ECG were recorded in situations of Sternberg Dual Task and Flying and HRV components and HR were analyzed and compared.


RESULTS
When subjects were exposed to Sternberg dual task situation, individuals with high emotional stability had lower LFnorm (P<0.05), HFnorm (P<0.05), LF/HF ratio and HR (P<0.05) than those with low emotional stability. When it comes to flying situation, individuals with high emotional stability had higher LFnorm and HFnorm, but LF/HF ratio and HR (P<0.05) were still lower than those with low emotional stability.


CONCLUSIONS
We found that there is a tendency which implies the situational separation of fluctuation of autonomic nervous system related to emotional stability. It suggests that the ability of an individual to adjust to outer environment depends not only on personality, temperament and cognitive module, but also on a physiological basis.
Liu
Xu-feng
XF
Department of Psychology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an.
Miao
Dan-min
DM
Xiao
Wei
W
Huang
Wei-fen
WF
Liu
Fang
F
Liu
Ping
P
Wang
Wei
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010556:Personality Tests