A-205: When the Heart Isn't in It: The Role of Apathy in Resting Heart Rate Variability and Cognitive Performance

Abstract

Objective: The current study aimed to determine whether specific apathy subtypes are associated with resting HRV, HRV reactivity to cognitive stressors, and cognitive performance. Method/Data Selection: One hundred sixteen university students (Mage=21.4, SD=6.5) completed self-reported measures, including the Apathy Motivation Index, Dimensional Apathy Scale, Beck Depression Inventory-2nd Edition and Fatigue Severity Scale. Electrocardiography (ECG) sensors were applied to obtain a 5-minute baseline period followed by continuous ECG during cognitive tasks, which included the Multi-Source Interference Task (MSIT) and Digit Span. Partial correlations and regression analyses were conducted to examine relationships between apathy subtypes, baseline high-frequency HRV (HF-HRV), HR-reactivity during cognitive tasks, and cognitive performance. Results/Data Synthesis: Controlling for age, fatigue, and depression, executive apathy (β = −.526, p<.001) and emotional apathy (β = −.271, p=.009), were significant predictors of baseline HF-HRV F(5, 96) = 4.562, p <.001, R2adj = .15, and reduced HR reactivity during interference and working memory tasks F(5, 94) = 4.35, p = .001, R2adj=.185). Executive apathy predicted accuracy for congruent (β = −.332, p =.022) and incongruent trials of the MSIT (β = -.358, p=.020). while HF-HRV approached significance (β = -.208 p= .06). Behavioral apathy predicted Digit Span backward performance (β = −.256, p = .010), but was not associated with baseline HRV or MSIT performance. Conclusions: These findings suggest that apathy, particularly executive and emotional apathy, are associated with altered baseline autonomic regulation, with HRV serving as a potential physiological marker. Further research is needed to bridge theoretical models of apathy with practical relevance and functional implications across clinical populations.