Enhanced Brain-Heart Connectivity as a Precursor of Reduced State Anxiety after Therapeutic Virtual Reality Immersion.

ABSTRACT: State anxiety involves transient feelings of tension and nervousness in response to threats, which can escalate into anxiety disorders if persistent. Despite treatments, 30%-50% of individuals show limited improvement, and neurophysiological mechanisms of treatment responsiveness remain unclear, requiring the development of objective biomarkers. In this study, multimodal electrophysiological parameters are monitored: heart rate variability (high frequency (HF), low frequency (LF), LF/HF ratio), EEG beta and alpha relative power, and brain-to-heart connectivity in participants with real-life state anxiety. Participants underwent a therapeutic intervention combining virtual-reality immersion, hypnotic script, and a breath control exercise. Real-life state anxiety is captured using the State-

SUBMITTER: Sezer I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12520498 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature