Table 1.
Study features
| Study | Type of sample | Sample size (n of women) (Exp/Ctrl) | Age1 | Study focus | Study design | Control condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bradley et al. (2010) | High school students |
136 (53%) 77/59 |
Exp: 15.3 (0.44) Ctrl: 15.3 (0.44) |
Effects of TestEdge program on stress and anxiety management | Quasi-experimental field design/pre–post assessment | Waiting list |
| de Bruin et al. (2016) | Young highly stressed adults |
75 (55) MM: 27 (20) HRV-BF: 25 (17) PE: 23 (18) |
MM: 26.32 (5.03) HRV-BF: 26.99 (6.53) PE: 25.28 (4.42) |
Effect of 3 different interventions on attention control, executive functioning, mindful awareness, self-compassion, and worrying |
Comparative groups Pre–post assessment |
MM PE |
| Ginsberg et al. (2010) | War veterans |
10 5/5 |
Outpatient clinic: 29.4 (2.5) Active soldiers: 34.2 (2.6) |
Effect of HRV-BF intervention on combat veterans |
Pilot study Pre–post assessment |
Veterans PTSD2 |
| Groeneveld et al. (2019) | ADHD patients |
139 adults: 39 (27) Children: 100 (28) |
Adults: 32.1 (11.6) Children: 10.6 (2.9) |
Impact of the combination of NF3 and HRV-BF on ADHD symptoms | Pre–post assessment | N/A4 |
| Jester et al. (2019) | Older adults | 18 (14) | 78.15 (9.18) | Cognitive and psychiatric effects of HRV biofeedback on older adults | Pre–post assessment | N/A |
| Kenien (2015) | Children with emotional disturbances | 63 (13%) | Range: 7–14 | Impact of heart coherence on executive functions in children with emotional disturbances | Quasi-experimental field design/pre–post assessment | Active |
| Kim et al. (2013) | Severe brain injury patients | 13 (6) | Median age: 44 (range: 23–63) | Response to HRV-BF intervention on executive functioning and brain injury | Pilot study, single-treatment, non-randomized, unblinded quasi-experimental design with repeated measures | N/A |
| Lee and Finkelstein (2015) | Healthy adults | 14 (4) | 36.64 (6.85) | Effect of StressEraser on stress and cognitive performance | Cross-over study | N/A |
| May et al. (2019) | College students |
90 (82%) HIIT: 30 HRVCB: 30 Ctrl: 30 |
18.55 (0.99) | BF intervention to reduce school burnout and improve cardiac functioning in college students |
Comparative groups design Pre–post assessment |
HIIT Waiting list |
| Pop-Jordanova and Chakalaroska (2008) | High school students |
50 EEG-PAT: 30 EDR: 10 HRV-BF5: 10 |
Range: 16–18 | Comparison of 3 biofeedback modalities for better achievement in high school students |
Comparative groups Pre–post assessment |
EEG-PAT EDR |
| Prinsloo et al. (2011) | Senior manager exposed to work-related stress with high perceived stress |
18 9/9 |
Exp: 33 (± 6) Ctrl: 34 (± 6) |
Effect of 10-min HRV-BF on cognitive performance and affect score during induced stress |
Randomized controlled trial Pre–post assessment |
Active |
| Raaijmakers et al. (2013) | University students |
28 16/12 |
22 (range: 19–27) | Impact of HRV and skin conductance BF on physiological, affective, and cognitive variables |
Triple blind randomized control Pre–post assessment |
Sham control |
| Rusciano et al. (2017) | Professional football players |
20 10/10 |
Exp: 30.0 (3.8) Ctrl: 30.7 (4.3) |
Impact of BF intervention on attention, resilience, and injury prevention |
Single-blind Pre–post assessment |
Active |
| Schumann et al. (2019) | Healthy adults |
24 14 (7)/10 (5) |
Exp: 30 ± 9 years (range: 22–52) Ctrl: 30 ± 13 years (range: 18–55) |
Effect of an 8-week HRV-BF intervention on autonomic function and impulsivity | Pre–post assessment | Active |
| Sherlin et al. (2010) | Healthy adults | 43 (48.8%) | 33.2 (8.77) | Effects of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) biofeedback on stress | Pre–post assessment | Concentrative relaxation group |
| Sutarto et al. (2013) | Healthy female operators |
36 19/17 |
Exp: 35.6 (10.58) | Effect of HRV-BF training on female operator’s cognitive performance | Pre–post assessment | Passive |
Exp experimental group, Ctrl control group, MM mindfulness meditation group, HRV-BF heart rate variability BF group, PE physical exercise group, HIIT high-intensity interval training group, HRVCB heart rate variability coherence biofeedback group, EEG-PAT EEG-peak achievement trainer, EDR electrodermal response
1Where available, mean (or median) age and standard deviations (in parentheses) per group are specified
2Without post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms
3Neurofeedback
4Not assessed
5Heart rate variability biofeedback