Title Hopelessness is associated with decreased heart rate variability during championship chess games.
Author Schwarz, Alfons M; Schachinger, Hartmut; Adler, Rolf H; Goetz, Stefan M
Journal Psychosom Med Publication Year/Month 2003-Jul-Aug
PMID 12883118 PMCID -N/A-
Affiliation 1.Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Division Lory, University of Berne Medical School, Berne, Switzerland.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical observations suggest that negative affects such as helplessness/hopelessness (HE/HO) may induce autonomic duration; affects were assessed for every move after reconstruction of the games. In all games compiled, 18 situation of intense confidence/optimism and 20 of intense helplessness/hopelessness were observed. RESULTS: Intense affects of HE/HO were associated with decreasing HF-HRV (Fisher exact test, p =.003), increasing "nervousness" (p =.0005), decreasing "optimism" (p =.0005), and decreasing "calmness" (p =.0005). CONCLUSIONS: Investigation of championship chess game players with an ELO strength > or = 2300 in a natural field setting revealed increasing HE/HO being associated with reduced HF-HRV suggestive of vagal withdrawal. Thus, our data may help link negative mood states, autonomic nervous system disturbances, and cardiac events.

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