The experimental study on the effects of pause breathing patterns on heart rate variability

In order to observe the effect of Pause Breathing (PB) patterns on Autonomic Nervous and determine the Yin and Yang modulating mechanism of PB, two different PB patterns: Inhaling-Exhaling-Pause (I-E-P), Inhaling-Pause-Exhaling (I-P-E) with two different respiratory frequencies: 16 breaths/min and 5 breaths/min were observed on 10 healthy adults. We used R-R interval spectral analysis of Heart Rate Variability (HRV) to determine the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) and Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) activities. We found (1) I-E-P and I-P-E at 16 breaths/min didn't exert significant influence on autonomic nervous systems, (2) Both I-E-P and I-P-E at 5 breaths/min increased sympathetic activity, on basis of which, I-E-P which could enhance exhaling, also increased parasympathetic activity, and I-P-E which could enhanced inhaling, induced more increased sympathetic activity. From the view of Chinese Medical theory, the former breathing had the action of strengthening Yang, while the latter reducing Heat and enhancing Yin. (3) There were physiological after-effects after the respiratory regulation.