Nicholas P. Murray and Thomas D. Raedeke
East Carolina University, USA
Citation
P. Murray, N., D. Raedeke, T. (2008). Heart Rate Variability as an indicator of pre-competitive arousal. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 39(4), 346-355.
Abstract
The aim of this paper was to examine heart rate variability as an indicator of pre-competitive arousal. Twenty Participants (11 males and 9 females; age: M = 20.3 years ± 2.3) engaged in a golf putting task alone in the control condition and in front of an audience in the experimental condition designed to induce arousal and anxiety. Heart rate variability (HRV), cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, and self-confidence were recorded immediately prior to performance in both conditions. Results demonstrated a significant increase (p < .05) in normalized low frequency band, a decrease in normalized high frequency band within the HRV component and an increase in LF/HF ratio (M = 1.05; M = 5.67), as well as a corresponding increase in cognitive and somatic anxiety between the control and experimental conditions. In addition, HRV change, cognitive anxiety change, and somatic anxiety change were significantly correlated to performance change from control to experimental session. Findings provide support for the use of HRV as a viable and convenient arousal measure.
Keywords: High Frequency, HRV, Low Frequency, Performance, SDNN, State Anxiety