S09 Biofeedback

The Biofeedback lesson explores the concept of biofeedback training and its effect on autonomic control of heart rate. An onscreen, thermometer-style heart rate display rises and falls with changes in heart rate, allowing students to become conscious of their heart rates. The Subject will try to influence the reading without physical movements.

• National Science Education Standards Correlation

Experimental Objectives

1. Introduce the concept of biofeedback as a technique to alter autonomic tone.
2. Measure changes in autonomic tone via heart rate.

Tasks Performed by the Student

• Record ECG and heart rate.
• Sit and relax with eyes open, facing away from the screen to establish baseline heart rate and ECG.
• Watch monitor and mentally try to voluntarily increase parasympathetic tone (lower heart rate display).
• Watch monitor and mentally try to voluntarily increase sympathetic tone (increase heart rate display).
• Watch two PowerPoint presentations and try to remain relaxed.

Student Prep & Distance Learning

Click the link(s) below for sample data and/or lesson procedure video(s), BSL PRO Lesson procedures (PDF) for human lessons*, and graph template files (*.gtl) for BSL PRO Lessons. If more than one .gtl is available, download the .gtl with the _suffix to match BSL version and hardware.

• Biopac Science Lab Lesson S09 (review copy)

Lesson Hardware

This lesson requires a Biopac Science Lab (MP40) System and the following hardware. If your BScL System does not include all hardware items, expand your system by selecting required items below.