A Shaping Procedure for Heart-Rate Control in Chronic Tachycardia

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Abstract
6 experiments of single-subject design are presented in which an operant conditioning paradigm, utilizing a variable criterion shaping procedure with commercial television programs or money as reinforcement, was employed to accelerate or decelerate heart rate (HR). In the four analogue experiments in which the HR of normal Ss was accelerated, changes of 16 to 35 BPM above a stable baseline were obtained. In the two clinical experiments, involving patients with chronic tachycardia and anxiety, decelerations of HR to the normal range were obtained and other clinical improvements noted. In all cases these changes in HR were maintained over at least three successive trials (days). The results are discussed in terms of the applicability of this shaping procedure to the treatment of chronic tachycardia.