Contingent and non-contingent biofeedback training for Type A and B healthy adults: can Type As relax by competing?

This paper investigates an alternative approach to the modification of cardiovascular reactivity in healthy Type A adults using contingent (true) and non-contingent (false) heart rate biofeedback. Sixteen Type A and sixteen Type B subjects were either given instructions to compete for heart rate reduction or were given no competitive instructions. There were four relaxation sessions. In one, subjects were given contingent heart rate biofeedback and in another they were given no feedback. In two sessions 'feedback' was non-contingent: in one condition feedback suggested that heart rate decreased across the session; in the other the suggestion was of increase. Results showed that overall, biofeedback was an effective method for heart rate reduction but non-contingent feedback (decreased heart rate) was found to be as effective as contingent feedback. Overall, Type A subjects reduced heart rate significantly more than Type Bs. More importantly, Type As reduced heart rate significantly more when competing than when competition was not mentioned. These results suggest that core elements of Type A behaviour, in particular competition, could be exploited in the modification of physiological hyperactivity in healthy Type A individuals.