Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the effects of fixed-intensity and varied-intensity electroacupuncture on heart rate variability in healthy people with stress task.
Methods : Forty healthy subjects were randomly assigned to either group A or group B or C. Group A received fixed-intensity electroacupuncture(F-EA) at ST_36_ and ST_37_. After 1 week wash out period to prevent overlapping residual effects, they received varied-intensity electroacupuncture(V-EA) in which the intensity was changed every two minutes based on individual heart rate variability at the same points. Group B received the treatments in reverse order. Group C received no intervention as a control group.
Results : Control group showed a significant increase of LF and LF/HF during the 2nd working memory task, while both F-EA and V-EA did not. In addition, V-EA showed a significant increase of HF during 2nd rest while F-EA did not.
Conclusions : These results suggest that F-EA and V-EA can inhibit sympathetic activation more than control group and that V-EA can enhance parasympathetic activation more than F-EA.