ArticleFrontiers in aging neuroscience2020
Heart Rate Variability Mainly Relates to Cognitive Executive Functions and Improves Through Exergame Training in Older Adults: A Secondary Analysis of a 6-Month Randomized Controlled Trial.
Article in Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 23 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
23 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 43 citations in OpenAlex.
- Meta-analysis of the effects of dance- and movement-based kinesthetic games on cognitive function in older adults with cognitive impairment (CI) under different intervention periods.Aging clinical and experimental research · 2025Pooled it
- Can Reactivity of Heart Rate Variability Be a Potential Biomarker and Monitoring Tool to Promote Healthy Aging? A Systematic Review With Meta-Analyses.Frontiers in physiology · 2021Pooled it
- Effects of Exergame Training on Executive Function and Heart Rate Variability in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Study.European journal of sport science · 2025Trial
- Daily Paced Breathing Sessions Induce Left Orbitofrontal Volume Changes Linked to Cognitive Outcomes.medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences · 2026Article
- Cognitive Processing Efficiency (Throughput) Improves with Aerobic Exercise and Is Independent of the Environmental Oxygenation Level: A Randomized Crossover Trial.Sports (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Heart Rate Variability in Adolescents with Autistic Spectrum Disorder Practicing a Virtual Reality Using Two Different Interaction Devices (Concrete and Abstract): A Prospective Randomized Crossover Controlled Trial.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- An Integrated Platform Combining Immersive Virtual Reality and Physiological Sensors for Systematic and Individualized Assessment of Stress Response (bWell): Design and Implementation Study.JMIR formative research · 2025Article
- The Best of Two Worlds to Promote Healthy Cognitive Aging: Definition and Classification Approach of Hybrid Physical Training Interventions.JMIR aging · 2024Article
- Dual-task improvement of older adults after treadmill walking combined with blood flow restriction of low occlusion pressure: the effect on the heart-brain axis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · 2024Article
- Prefrontal activity and heart rate variability during cognitive tasks may show different changes in young and older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment.Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2024Article
- Exergaming and education: a relational model for games selection and evaluation.Frontiers in psychology · 2023Review
- Selective effects of psychosocial stress on plan based movement selection.Scientific reports · 2022Article
- Development and evaluation of two brief digital health promotion game booths utilizing augmented reality and motion detection to promote well-being at a gerontechnology summit in Hong Kong.Frontiers in public health · 2022Observational
- "The Wandering Nerve Linking Heart and Mind" - The Complementary Role of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Modulating Neuro-Cardiovascular and Cognitive Performance.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2022Review
- Multiparametric Investigation of Dynamics in Fetal Heart Rate Signals.Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Article
- Effects of different exercise interventions on heart rate variability and cardiovascular health factors in older adults: a systematic review.European review of aging and physical activity : official journal of the European Group for Research into Elderly and Physical Activity · 2021Review
- Four Weeks of Detraining Induced by COVID-19 Reverse Cardiac Improvements from Eight Weeks of Fitness-Dance Training in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Multimodal measurement approach to identify individuals with mild cognitive impairment: study protocol for a cross-sectional trial.BMJ open · 2021Article
- Heart Rate Variability and Cardiovascular Fitness: What We Know so Far.Vascular health and risk management · 2021Review
- Moving Beyond Disciplinary Silos Towards a Transdisciplinary Model of Wellbeing: An Invited Review.Frontiers in psychology · 2021Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Heart rate variability (HRV) mirrors autonomic nervous system activities and might serve as a parameter to monitor health status in older adults. However, it is currently unknown which functional health measures, including cognitive, physical, and gait performance parameters, are most strongly related to HRV indices. This knowledge would enable implementing HRV assessments into health monitoring routines and training planning for older adults. Simultaneous cognitive-motor and exergame training may be effective to improve HRV indices but has not been investigated yet. Eighty-nine healthy older adults (≥70 years of age) were randomized into three groups: (1) virtual reality video game dancing, i.e., exergaming (DANCE); (2) treadmill walking with simultaneous verbal memory training (MEMORY); or (3) treadmill walking only (PHYS). Strength and balance exercises complemented each program. Over 6 months, two weekly 1-h training sessions were performed. HRV indices (standard deviation of N-N intervals, SDNN; root mean square of successive R-R interval differences, RMSSD; and absolute power of high-frequency band (0.15-0.4 Hz), HF power) and various measures of cognitive, physical, and gait performance were assessed at baseline and after 3 months and 6 months. Multiple linear regression analyses with planned comparisons were calculated. At baseline, 8-12% of HRV variance was significantly explained by cognitive executive functions and leg strength (inversely related). Verbal long-term memory, aerobic and functional fitness, and gait performance did not contribute to the model (SDNN:
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