title: Meditation-induced changes in high-frequency heart rate variability predict smoking outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV) is a measure of parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) output that has been associated with enhanced self-regulation. Low resting levels of HF-HRV are associated with nicotine dependence and blunted stress-related changes in HF-HRV are associated with decreased ability to resist smoking. Meditation has been shown to increase HF-HRV. However, it is unknown whether tonic levels of HF-HRV or acute changes in HF-HRV during meditation predict treatment responses in addictive behaviors such as smoking cessation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between HF-HRV and subsequent smoking outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  HF-HRV during resting baseline and during mindfulness meditation was measured within two weeks of completing a 4-week smoking cessation intervention in a sample of 31 community participants. Self-report measures of smoking were obtained at a follow up 17-weeks after the initiation of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regression analyses indicated that individuals exhibiting acute increases in HF-HRV from resting baseline to meditation smoked fewer cigarettes at follow-up than those who exhibited acute decreases in HF-HRV (b = -4.89, p = 0.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acute changes in HF-HRV in response to meditation may be a useful tool to predict smoking cessation treatment response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven CT, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Libby
authors.forename: Patrick D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Worhunsky
authors.forename: Corey E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Pilver
authors.forename: Judson A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Brewer