Breath Pacing by Auditory and Visual Cues

Toft, Christian

4. term

Medialogy, Master

2014

2014-08-07

60

This thesis examines how different guided breathing (breath pacing) modalities influence heart rate variability (HRV), heart rate, and user experience. The aim is to compare modalities (visual, auditory, and audio-visual) and specific sound designs to assess whether the form of pacing yields measurable differences. Two tests were conducted: Test 1 compared visual, auditory, and audio-visual pacers; Test 2 compared three auditory pacers—a continuous accordion-like sound, a continuous ocean waves sound, and a discrete “ping-pong” sound. Heart rate/HRV were recorded in both tests, and participants rated pleasantness and ease of following the cues. In Test 1, there was a significant effect of pacer type on mean heart rate, with the audio-visual pacer producing a higher mean heart rate than the visual pacer; the cause is unclear and warrants further investigation. In Test 2, there was a significant effect on peak heart rate, with the “ping-pong” sound yielding a lower peak heart rate than waves and accordion; again, the mechanism is unclear. Subjectively, the waves sound was rated more pleasant than the others and easier to follow than “ping-pong.” Overall, the findings suggest that both modality and sound design in breath pacers can affect cardiovascular measures and user experience, though the underlying mechanisms require further study.

Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan forskellige måder at guide vejrtrækning (åndedræts-pacing) påvirker hjerterytmevariabilitet (HRV), puls og brugeroplevelse. Formålet er at sammenligne modaliteter (visuel, auditiv og audio-visuel) samt forskellige lydudformninger for at belyse, om pacernes udtryk gør en målbar forskel. To tests blev gennemført: I test 1 blev visuelle, auditive og audio-visuelle pacere sammenlignet; i test 2 blev tre auditive pacere afprøvet—en kontinuerlig harmonika-lignende lyd, en kontinuerlig lyd af havbølger og en diskret “ping-pong”-lyd. Under begge tests blev puls/HRV målt, og deltagerne vurderede behagelighed og hvor let pacerne var at følge. I test 1 fandtes en signifikant effekt af pacertype på gennemsnitlig puls, hvor den audio-visuelle pacer gav højere gennemsnitlig puls end den visuelle pacer; årsagen er uklar og kræver yderligere undersøgelse. I test 2 sås en signifikant effekt på maksimal puls, idet “ping-pong”-lyden gav lavere top-puls end bølger og harmonika; også her er årsagen uklar. Subjektivt blev bølge-lyden vurderet som mere behagelig end de øvrige og lettere at følge end “ping-pong”. Samlet peger resultaterne på, at både modalitet og lydudformning i åndedrætspacere kan påvirke kardiovaskulære mål og brugeroplevelse, men at de underliggende mekanismer bør undersøges nærmere.

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