TY - UNPB
T1 - Emotional inner speech influences heart rate and blood pressure – a case study
AU - Wallentin, Mikkel
AU - Danielsen, Line Elgaard Kruse
AU - Nedergård, Johanne Sofie Krog
PY - 2025
Y1 - 2025
N2 - In this case study, we investigated the effects of emotional inner speech on heart rate and blood pressure. Across nine experiments, the case participant, a middle-aged man, engaged in strong self-generated negative o rpositive inner speech while undergoing blood pressure and heart rate measurements. Across experiments, emotional inner speech was compared to different types of control conditions, including slow counting, fast counting (to control for speech rate), backwards counting in steps of 7 (to control for cognitive load), breathhold (to control for differences in respiration), and abdominal muscle tension (to control for effects of physical tension during emotional inner speech). Across experiments, a clear increase in heart rate was found across all experiments for emotional inner speech, both positive and negative. Increases in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were also found across most experimental conditions, but with slightly less consistency. No differences were found between positive and negative inner speech. Speech rate, cognitive load, and muscle tension were all found to have independent effects, but in total, the experiments point to emotional inner speech having an added effect on cardiovascular physiology beyond what can be explained by confounding effects. The case study thus informs future group studies aboutthe relationship between inner speech and physiology.
AB - In this case study, we investigated the effects of emotional inner speech on heart rate and blood pressure. Across nine experiments, the case participant, a middle-aged man, engaged in strong self-generated negative o rpositive inner speech while undergoing blood pressure and heart rate measurements. Across experiments, emotional inner speech was compared to different types of control conditions, including slow counting, fast counting (to control for speech rate), backwards counting in steps of 7 (to control for cognitive load), breathhold (to control for differences in respiration), and abdominal muscle tension (to control for effects of physical tension during emotional inner speech). Across experiments, a clear increase in heart rate was found across all experiments for emotional inner speech, both positive and negative. Increases in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were also found across most experimental conditions, but with slightly less consistency. No differences were found between positive and negative inner speech. Speech rate, cognitive load, and muscle tension were all found to have independent effects, but in total, the experiments point to emotional inner speech having an added effect on cardiovascular physiology beyond what can be explained by confounding effects. The case study thus informs future group studies aboutthe relationship between inner speech and physiology.
M3 - Preprint
BT - Emotional inner speech influences heart rate and blood pressure – a case study
PB - PsyArXiv
CY - https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/vhn37_v1
ER -