Respiratory training biofeedback system

Stress has been proved to contribute to physical and psychological disorders such as insomnia, anxiety and mild depression. Respiration is a factor that depresses the activity of sympathetic nervous system and consequently reduces stress. Respiratory training teaches people proper breathing techniques to improve respiratory function or reduce stress. This paper develops a respiratory training biofeedback system which is a combination of respiratory training and biofeedback technology. It can instantly, quantificationally and visually feedback the trainees 'autonomic nervous system state to them during the respiratory training process and instruct them to practice proper breathing pattern. As the heart rate variability (HRV) is believed by far the best indicator of autonomic nervous system activity, this system uses the spectral analysis parameter of HRV, LF/HF ratio, as biofeedback modality to indicate the autonomic nervous system state. The system is developed on the LabView platform and can be used to help people to voluntarily control the autonomic system, keep the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system and consequently reduce stress.