Physiological Signatures of Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC) Processing Levels: An Empirical Study Based on Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Polyvagal Theory

This study aims to explore the immediate regulatory effects of different psychological processing levels—based on the Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC) framework—on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) during visual art-making. The study will recruit vocational high school students. During a standardized art-making task protocol, Polar H10 sensors will be used to continuously track the dynamic changes in Heart Rate Variability (HRV) as participants transition from the "Kinesthetic/Sensory" level to the "Cognitive/Symbolic" level. Grounded in Polyvagal Theory, we hypothesize that higher-level symbolic processing in art-making will effectively activate the Ventral Vagal Complex (VVC), thereby promoting physiological and psychological safety and calmness.