Affiliations: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of
Ahmad Dahlan, Yogyakarta, Indonesia | Department of Human Sciences, University of Malaysia
Pahang, Pahang, Malaysia | Department of Psychiatry, Kulliyyah of Medicine,
Islamic International University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Auditya Purwandini Sutarto,
Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Ahmad Dahlan, Jln Prof Dr.
Soepomo, Janturan, Yogyakarta, 55164 Indonesia. Tel.: +62274
379418/+6285859477571; Fax: +62274 381523; E-mail: auditya_ps@yahoo.com
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Predominantly cognitive tasks assigned to the shop floor
can lead to decreased cognitive functions problems, thereby increasing
occupational accident risks. A potential approach to prevent such circumstances
is by improving operator's cognitive performance. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine whether heart rate
variability (HRV) biofeedback training could improve cognitive performance
among electronic manufacturing's operators. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects consisted of 36 female operators who were
randomly assigned as the experimental (n=19), and control group (n=17). METHOD: The experimental participants received five session of
weekly HRV biofeedback training of 30–50 minutes each. Physiological
stress profiles and cognitive performance were assessed at pre and
post-intervention. RESULTS: Significant group x time effects were observed for
attention and memory (p< 0.01) but not present for cognitive flexibility.
Significant higher total spectrum HRV and low frequency (LF) power also
occurred during biofeedback sessions, in addition to slower respiration rate.
Physiological stress profile showed that the biofeedback participants were able
to increase their LF activity at baseline, stressor, and recovery periods from
pre to post. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates potential application of HRV
biofeedback for operator's performance enhancement, associated with increases
in HRV.
