Cardiovascular Perception and Voluntary Control of Heart Rate

Abstract
From 519 participants administered the cardiovascular functioning items of the Autonomic Perception Questionnaire, 42 were chosen and divided into groups low, middle, or high in perception based on the total score. Each participant was given six 2-min. trials during which they were to raise or lower heart rate. The short version of the questionnaire did not predict ability to control heart rate. However, the three groups were able to increase and decrease heart rate on command.