Research on respiratory sinus arrhythmia, or high-frequency heart rate variability (its frequency-domain equivalent), has been popular in psychology and the behavioral sciences for some time. It is typically interpreted as an indicator of cardiac vagal activity. However, as research has shown for decades, the respiratory pattern can influence the amplitude of these noninvasive measures substantially, without necessarily reflecting changes in tonic cardiac vagal activity. Although changes in respiration are systematically associated with experiential and behavioral states, this potential confound in the interpretation of RSA, or HF-HRV, is rarely considered. Interpretations of within-individual changes in these parameters are therefore only conclusive if undertaken relative to the breathing pattern. The interpretation of absolute levels of these parameters between individuals is additionally burdened with the problem of residual inspiratory cardiac vagal activity in humans. Furthermore, multiple demographic, anthropometric, life-style, health, and medication variables can act as relevant third variables that might explain associations of RSA or HF-HRV with experiential and behavioral variables. Because vagal activity measured by these parameters only represents the portion of cardiac vagal outflow that is modulated by the respiratory rhythm, alternative interpretations beyond cardiac vagal activity should be considered. Accumulating research shows that activity of multiple populations of neurons in the brain and the periphery, and with that organ activity and function, are modulated rhythmically by respiratory activity. Thus, observable health benefits ascribed to the cardiac vagal system through RSA or HF-HRV may actually reflect beneficial effects of respiratory modulation. Respiratory rhythmicity may ultimately provide the mechanism that integrates central, autonomic, and visceral activities.

中文翻译：

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将呼吸放回到呼吸性窦性心律失常或高频心率变异性：对解释、呼吸节律和健康的影响

关于呼吸性窦性心律失常或高频心率变异性（其频域等效项）的研究在心理学和行为科学中已经流行了一段时间。它通常被解释为心脏迷走神经活动的指标。然而，几十年来的研究表明，呼吸模式可以极大地影响这些非侵入性测量的幅度，但不一定反映强直性心脏迷走神经活动的变化。尽管呼吸的变化与经验和行为状态系统相关，但很少考虑 RSA 或 HF-HRV 解释中的这种潜在混淆。因此，只有相对于呼吸模式进行这些参数的个体内部变化的解释才是决定性的。对个体之间这些参数的绝对水平的解释还面临着人类残余吸气心脏迷走神经活动的问题。此外，多个人口统计、人体测量、生活方式、健康和药物变量可以作为相关的第三个变量，可以解释 RSA 或 HF-HRV 与经验和行为变量的关联。由于这些参数测量的迷走神经活动仅代表受呼吸节律调节的心脏迷走神经流出的部分，因此应考虑心脏迷走神经活动之外的其他解释。越来越多的研究表明，大脑和外周多个神经元群的活动以及器官的活动和功能受到呼吸活动的节律调节。因此，通过 RSA 或 HF-HRV 归因于心脏迷走神经系统的可观察到的健康益处实际上可能反映了呼吸调节的有益效果。呼吸节律最终可能提供整合中枢、自主和内脏活动的机制。