HRV Biofeedback
Single-Session HRV Biofeedback for Performance Anxiety
Grade B+Randomized controlled trial2012
What did this study find?
Forty-six trained musicians were assigned to slow-breathing heart rate variability biofeedback or a control condition before a performance. The biofeedback groups showed greater improvement in heart rate variability while anticipating performance. This was a single session, so the study speaks to immediate physiological change rather than lasting reduction in performance anxiety.
What are the details of this record?
- Full citation
- Wells R, Outhred T, Heathers JAJ, Quintana DS, Kemp AH. Matter over mind: a randomized-controlled trial of single-session biofeedback training on performance anxiety. PLoS ONE. 2012;7(10):e46597.
- Journal
- PLoS ONE
- Authors
- Wells R, Outhred T, Heathers JAJ, et al.
- Study design
- Randomized controlled trial
- Sample size and population
- 46 trained musicians
- Evidence grade
- Grade B+ on the BioReg grading scale
- Reported findings
- Slow breathing groups showed greater improvements in HRV metrics vs control during performance anticipation.
- DOI
- No DOI recorded
- PubMed
- PMID 23056361
- Related categories
- HRV Biofeedback (category grade B+)
A positive PEMF study is not evidence for a specific device unless the signal parameters studied, frequency, intensity, waveform, and exposure duration, are reasonably comparable to what that device produces. Where this record does not list those parameters, the source report did not publish them. See the grading methodology. Library last reviewed 2026-08-27.