An inverted U-shaped relationship between heart rate deceleration and empathic emotions

Previous studies have shown that the high frequency component of heart rate variability is associated with empathic emotions (empathic concern and personal distress) negatively and quadratically—there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between tonic parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity and empathy. However, it is unclear whether the inverted U-shape also applies to the relationship between phasic PNS activity and empathic emotions....