Effects of Aesthetic Chills on a Cardiac Signature of Emotionality

Previous studies have shown that a cardiac signature of emotionality (referred to as EK, which can be computed from the standard 12 lead electrocardiogram, ECG), predicts inter-individual differences in the tendency to experience and express positive emotion. Here, we investigated whether EK values can be transiently modulated during stimulation with participant-selected music pieces and film scenes that elicit strongly positive emotion. The phenomenon of aesthetic chills, as indicated by measurable piloerection on the forearm, was used to accurately locate moments of peak emotional responses during stimulation. From 58 healthy participants, continuous EK values, heart rate, and respiratory frequency were recorded during stimulation with film scenes and music pieces, and were related to the aesthetic chills. EK values, as well as heart rate, increased significantly during moments of peak positive emotion accompanied by piloerection. These results are the first to provide evidence for an influence of momentary psychological state on a cardiac signature of emotional personality (as reflected in EK values). The possibility to modulate ECG amplitude signatures via stimulation with emotionally significant music pieces and film scenes opens up new perspectives for the use of emotional peak experiences in the therapy of disorders characterized by flattened emotionality, such as depression or schizoid personality disorder

Illustration of the 12 standard ECG leads, ECG waves and E_κ values.

<p><b>(a)</b> Illustration of standard ECG leads. The six extremity leads (Lead I, Lead II, Lead III, aVR, aVF, aVL) record electrical voltages in different angles on the frontal plane of the body. The six chest leads (V1–V6) record electrical voltages in different angles on a transverse section of the chest. <b>(b)</b> Schematic illustration of a heart beat in the healthy ECG. The P-wave reflects atrial depolarization, the QRS-complex ventricle depolarization, and the T-wave ventricle repolarization. <b>(c)</b> From four cardiac amplitude values, a single E_κ value is calculated. Scaling factor <i>α</i> = 10 was introduced for readability reasons.</p

Average physiological changes in participants who had piloerection (black bars) and their matched partners (white bars).

<p>Black bars depict the difference in physiological activity between the entire piloerection passage and a random control passage of similar length within the same stimulus and subject. White bars depict the same difference scores, but for matched partner subjects who did not have piloerection in either of the passages. All scores are normalized with respect to activity during the baseline period. Ek = emotional index E_κ, HR = heart rate, RF = respiratory frequency. HR and E_κ scores are different from zero in the piloerection condition (black bar), RF scores are different from zero in the no-piloerection condition (white bar). The differences in HR scores and in E_κ scores (black versus white bars) are significant on a 0.05 significance level.</p

Poststimulus ratings (English translation).

<p>Asterisks indicate significant differences between stimuli evoking chills and stimuli not evoking chills (corrected for multiple comparisons).</p

Time course of the chill response with piloerection (left column) and without piloerection (right column), 15 seconds before and after chill/piloerection onset (= 0<i>s</i>).

<p>The first ten seconds of each period (-15 to -5 s period before piloerection onset) were considered as the baseline, and their mean value was subtracted from the entire passages (resulting in a zero baseline, depicted by the dotted line). The solid line depicts the response of subjects who experienced piloerection/chills. The dashed line depicts the data of subjects who did not experience piloerection/chills in the same stimulus passages. Black dots mark significant deviations from zero/baseline. Ek = emotional index E_κ, HR = heart rate, RF = respiratory frequency.</p

NEO-FFI Personality Scores (Std Scores).

<p>NEO-FFI Personality Scores (Std Scores).</p