Hovland has also studied how so-called heart-rate variability is associated with the way the brain treats inputs among patients with panic disorder.
“It’s well known that patients with panic disorder have less heart-rate variability than normal.”
“Pulse rates will normally vary from one situation to another, for instance when we are at rest compared to when we are excited. But for people with panic disorder, the heart rate changes less and is generally higher than normal per minute,” explains Hovland.
This appears to raise the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. If patients develop heart problems, it also has a negative effect.
Hovland says that physical activity increases heart-rate variability and has a positive effect on the brain, such as the way the brain regulates our attention.