Systolic Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Changes During Three Sessions Involving Biofeedback or No Feedback

Abstract

ABSTRACT Two groups of normotensive human subjects of both sexes received contingent feedback for increases or decreases in systolic blood pressure, and two additional groups received random (non‐contingent) feedback or no feedback. Subjects in all groups served fur three 1‐hr sessions separated by intervals of 24 hrs. Reliable decreases in blood pressure, reaching a maximum of 9.5 mm Hg at the end of the third session, were observed in the decrease group. No systematic changes in blood pressure were observed in the increase, random, or no‐feedback groups. Heart rate increased or decreased in the groups receiving contingent feedback for increasing or decreasing blood pressure, respectively. It is concluded that contingent feedback is effective in lowering blood pressure and that decreases are augmented by extended training. The covariance of heart rate and blood pressure is discussed with reference lo curlier experiments.