Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2025
DOI
10.14814/phy2.70466
Publication Title
Physiological Reports
Volume
13
Issue
14
Pages
e70466
Abstract
Vagally mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV) reflects top-down cognitive processes involved in emotion-cognition integration. Using cognitive control can be effortful and increase negative affect. However, this intrinsic affective component of cognitive control has not been well studied, and the role of vmHRV in the association between subjective experience in using cognitive control and behavioral performance remains unknown. The current study aimed to examine the relationship of vmHRV with cognitive control and perceived workload in a cognitive task. Eighty-one participants performed the Stroop interference task. Participants rated subjective workload using the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) scale for congruent and incongruent trials separately. Moreover, cognitive performance was analyzed with the ex-Gaussian model, from which the parameters μ and τ were derived to reflect sensorimotor processing and inhibitory control, respectively. Multiple regressions were used to analyze the effects of TLX change score (incongruent–congruent), vmHRV, and their interaction on the Stroop effect. Results showed that vmHRV negatively predicted the Stroop effect on τ. Importantly, vmHRV moderated the association between perceived workload and the Stroop effect on τ. Our findings highlight the role of cardiac vagal control in emotion-cognition integration and have theoretical and practical implications.
Rights
© 2025 The Authors.
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Data Availability
Article states: "The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors on request."
Original Publication Citation
Yang, X., Gazzanigo, M., Fang, F., & House, S. (2025). Vagally mediated heart rate variability modulates the association between the perceived workload and the Stroop effect on behavioral performance. Physiological Reports, 13(14), Article e70466. https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70466
ORCID
0000-0001-6421-2051 (Yang), 0009-0002-9311-9766 (Gazzanigo), 0000-0003-1961-7660 (Fang)
Repository Citation
Yang, Xiao; Gazzanigo, Michael; Fang, Fang; and House, Spencer, "Vagally Mediated Heart Rate Variability Modulates the Association Between The Perceived Workload and the Stroop Effect on Behavioral Performance" (2025). Psychology Faculty Publications. 229.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/psychology_fac_pubs/229
Supporting Information
Included in
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