Compassion Is Not a Benzo: Distinctive Associations of Heart Rate Variability With Its Empathic and Action Components

Abstract

Recent studies have linked compassion with higher vagally mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV), a measure of parasympathetic activity, and meta-analytic evidence confirmed significant and positive associations. Compassion, however, is not to be confused with soothing positive emotions: in order to engage in actions aimed to alleviate (self or others) suffering, the pain should resonate, and empathic sensitivity should be experienced first. The present study examined the association between vmHRV and the empathic sensitivity and action components of trait and state compassion. To do so, several dispositional questionnaires were administered and two videos inducing empathic sensitivity (video 1) and compassionate actions (video 2) were shown, while the ECG was continuously recorded, and momentary affect was assessed. Results showed that (i) scores on subscales assessing the empathic component of trait compassion were inversely related to resting vmHRV; (ii) vmHRV decreased after video 1 but significantly increased after video 2. As to momentary affect, video 1 was accompanied with an increase in sadness and a decrease in positive affect, whereas video 2 was characterized by an increase in anger, a parallel decrease in sadness, and an increase (although non-significant) in positive affect. Overall, present findings support the notion that it is simplistic to link compassion with higher vmHRV. Compassion encompasses increased sensitivity to emotional pain, which is naturally associated with lower vmHRV, and action to alleviate others’ suffering, which is ultimately associated with increased vmHRV. The importance of adopting a nuanced perspective on the complex physiological regulation that underlies compassionate responding to suffering is discussed.

Nurturing compassion in schools: A randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of a Compassionate Mind Training program for teachers

“…The present study also aimed to explore the impact of the CMT-T on heart rate variability (HRV), an indicator of vagal regulatory activity and a physiological marker of a person’s ability to flexibly respond to environmental challenges and regulate emotional responses [ 40 , 50 , 75 ], which has been proposed as a primary measure to assess and train compassion [ 44 , 56 ]. Results showed that HRV significantly increased in the CMT-T group from baseline (T1) to post-intervention (T2).…”

“…Furthermore, compassion positively impacts physiological health, including influences in genetic expression [e.g., lower levels of CTRA-related gene expression, 48 ; epigenetic profiles of the OXTR, 49 ]. Experimental studies have also documented that cultivating compassion impacts physiological systems, reducing arousal and increasing parasympathetic activation [e.g., heart-rate variability, HRV, 50 – 53 ], decreasing sensitivity to threat [ 49 ], and activating specific neural circuits distinct from empathy and mindfulness training [ 54 ].…”

Safe in my heart: resting heart rate variability longitudinally predicts emotion regulation, worry and sense of safeness during COVID-19 lockdown

“…One-hundred and seventy-two healthy individuals, whose resting vmHRV was assessed between May 2018 and October 2019 (Time 0; T0) during participation in previous studies (16)(17)(18)(19), were recruited. Specific information about vmHRV assessment can be found in the original studies (16)(17)(18)(19).…”

“…One-hundred and seventy-two healthy individuals, whose resting vmHRV was assessed between May 2018 and October 2019 (Time 0; T0) during participation in previous studies (16)(17)(18)(19), were recruited. Specific information about vmHRV assessment can be found in the original studies (16)(17)(18)(19). After the exclusion of 2 participants with current diagnosis of medical disorders, a total of 69 individuals were considered for this investigation, which includes data Next, participants were asked to download a free-avilable smartphone application (https://ecg4everybody.com/) and instructed to record vmHRV using finger tip photoplethysmography under resting conditions.…”

“…One-hundred and seventy-two healthy individuals, whose resting vmHRV was assessed between May 2018 and October 2019 (Time 0; T0) during participation in previous studies (16-19), were recruited. Specific information about vmHRV assessment can be found in the original studies (16-19). After the exclusion of 2 participants with current diagnosis of medical disorders, a total of 69 individuals were considered for this investigation, which includes data collected during national lockdowns in Italy and United Kingdom from May 1 to May 31, 2020 (Time 1; T1) (ClinicalTrials.gov identification code: NCT04382560).…”