A comprehensive review of heart rate variability as an indicator in the regulation of the autonomic nervous system by acupuncture:a bibliometric analysis

This study sought to conduct a bibliometric analysis of acupuncture studies focusing on heart rate variability(HRV)and to investigate the correlation between various acupoints and their effects on HRV by utilizing association rule mining and network analysis.A total of 536 publications on the topic of acupuncture studies based on HRV.The disease keyword analysis revealed that HRV-related acupuncture studies were mainly related to pain,inflammation,emotional disorders,gastrointestinal function,and hypertension.A separate analysis was conducted on acupuncture prescriptions,and Neiguan(PC6)and Zusanli(ST36)were the most frequently used acupoints.The core acupoints for HRV regulation were identified as PC6,ST36,Shenmen(HT7),Hegu(LI4),Sanyinjiao(SP6),Jianshi(PC5),Taichong(LR3),Quchi(LI11),Guanyuan(CV4),Baihui(GV20),and Taixi(KI3).Additionally,the research encompassed 46 reports on acupuncture animal experiments conducted on HRV,with ST36 being the most frequently utilized acupoint.The research presented in this study offers valuable insights into the global research trend and hotspots in acupuncture-based HRV studies,as well as identifying frequently used combinations of acupoints.The findings may be helpful for further research in this field and provide valuable information about the potential use of acupuncture for improving HRV in both humans and animals.

Heart Rate Variability as an Indicator of Stress in Students’ Athletes

Introduction: The wellbeing of student’s athletes has a paramount importance, a prolonged period of cognitive and physical performance that characterizes the life of student’s athletes often leads to fatigue, and a psychobiological state that increases the risk of injury and accidents. The use of Heart rate variability (HRV) has become increasingly popular as a non-invasive methodology that provides an indirect insight into the autonomic nervous system. HRV can be utilized as a diagnostic tool in detection of autonomic nervous system impairment and sympatho-vagal imbalance. HRV technology is employed to monitor the internal response of athletes to workload and identify athletes’s psychophysical stress to predict and therefore prevent injuries. Objective: The objective of the investigation is to establish whether the use of Polar H10 sensor heart rate monitors worn by athletes in a sitting position (inclination 60 degrees) during periods characterized by stress can provide a valid and non-invasive method to assess the psychophysiological state during sports competition and school exams. Method and Statistics: In the study, the HRV of 12 basketball students athletes and 4 students non-athletes was analyzed as a control group. The autonomic nervous system activity was assessed based on heart variability parameters (HRV): SDNN, rMSSD, LF, HF, and LF/HF. The measurements were made after establishing the baseline at rest, during the training phase (CT), competition phase (CC) and during the acute phase of stressors due to school exams coinciding with the competitive season (CC + E). Results: Compared to the respective values prior to the stress of the competitions and exams, a significant decrease in HRV indices was found: SDNN (P Conclusions: The analysis and examination of the data on the sample of the student population also showed a statistically significant correlation between decreased cardiac variability and injuries or indisposition to physical exertion.

Relationship between Ambient Fine Particles and Ventricular Repolarization Changes and Heart Rate Variability of Elderly People with Heart Disease in Beijing, China

Objective To explore the effects of particulate matters less than 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter （PM2.5） on heart repolarization/depolarization and heart rate variability （HRV）. Methods We conducted a panel study for elderly subjects with heart disease in Beijing from 2007 to 2008. PM2.5 was measured at a fixed station for 20 h continuously each day while electrocardiogram （ECG） indexes of 42 subjects were also recorded repeatedly. Meteorological data was obtained from the China Meteorological Data Sharing Service System. A mixed linear regression model was used to estimate the associations between PMz.s and the ECG indexes. The model was adjusted for age, body mass index, sex, day of the week and meteorology. Results Significant adverse effects of PM2.5 on ECG indexes reflecting HRV were observed statistically and the strongest effect of PM2.s on HRV was on lag i day in our study. However, there were no associations between PM2.5 and ECG indexes reflecting heart repolarization/depolarization. Additionally, the effects of PM2.5 on subjects with hypertension were larger than on the subjects without hypertension. Conclusion This study showed ambient PM2.5could affect cardiac autonomic function of the elderly people with heart disease, and subjects with hypertension appeared to be more susceptive to the autonomic dysfunction induced by PM2.5.

Effects of Impaired Glucose Metabolism on Heart Rate Variability and Blood Pessure Variability in Essential Hpertensive Patients

To investigate the effects of impaired glucose metabolism （IGM） on cardiovascular autonomic nervous systems in essential hypertensive （EH） patients by comparing heart rate variability （HRV） and blood pressure variability （BPV） in EH patients with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM）. Simultaneous 24-h recordings of ambulatory ECG and blood pressure monitoring were performed in 36 male old patients with simple EH and 33 male old patients with EH combined with T2DM. HRV analysis included time domain parameters such as SDNN, SDANN, SDNNi, rMSSD and pNN50, and total spectral power （TP） of HRV, which mainly consists of VLF, LF and HF component along with LF/HF ratio, was also obtained. The value of ambulatory blood pressure was represented as the mean blood pressure （mean systolic/mSBP, diastolic/mDBP and pulse pressure/mPP） during different periods （24 h/24 h, day time/d and night time/n）. Standard deviation （SD） as well as coefficient of variance （CV） of blood pressure during each above-mentioned period were obtained to reflect the long-term BPV. Our result showed that SDNN, SDNNi, SDANN, rMSSD, PNN50, TP and HF of HRV in cases of EH with T2DM were all significantly lower than those in simple EH subjects （P〈0.05）. No significant differences in VLF or LF was found between the two groups （P〉0.05）, while LF/HF ratio was significantly higher in EH with T2DM patients than in simple EH subjects （P〈0.01）. Moreover, dmSBP, 24 h-mPP and dmPP were all significantly higher in EH with T2DM patients than in simple EH subjects （P〈0.05）, while nmSBP, 24 h-mSBP, 24 h-mDBP, dmDBP, nmDBP or nmPP showed no significant difference between this two groups of patients （P〉0.05）. And dSBPSD, dSBPCV and 24 h-SBPSD were all significantly higher in EH with T2DM patients than in simple EH subjects （P〈0.05）, while the other BPV indexes showed no significant difference between this two groups （P〉0.05）. It is concluded that the cardiovascular autonomic nervous systems in EH patients was further impaired by T2DM, displaying lowering of HRV and enlargement of BPV, which in turn induced abnormal structural and functional changes of cardiovascular systems. Therefore, improving cardiovascular autonomic nervous systems might reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular complications in the EH patients with IGM.

Analysis of heart rate variability based on singular value decomposition entropy

Assessing the dynamics of heart rate fluctuations can provide valuable information about heart status. In this study, regularity of heart rate variability （HRV） of heart failure patients and healthy persons using the concept of singular value decomposition entropy （SvdEn） is analyzed. SvdEn is calculated from the time series using normalized singular values. The advantage of this method is its simplicity and fast computation. It enables analysis of very short and non-stationary data sets. The results show that SvdEn of patients with congestive heart failure （CHF） shows a low value （SvdEn： 0.056±0.006, p 〈 0.01） which can be completely separated from healthy subjects. In addition, differences of SvdEn values between day and night are found for the healthy groups. SvdEn decreases with age. The lower the SvdEn values, the higher the risk of heart disease. Moreover, SvdEn is associated with the energy of heart rhythm. The results show that using SvdEn for discriminating HRV in different physiological states for clinical applications is feasible and simple.

Altered heart rate variability and pulse-wave velocity after spinal cord injury

BACKGROUND Heart rate variability(HRV) and pulse-wave velocity(PWV),indicators of cardiac function,are altered in patients with spinal cord injury(SCI),suggesting that autonomic cardiac function and arterial stiffness may underlie the high risk of cardiovascular complications in these patients.No study has simultaneously investigated HRV and PWV in the same patients.AIM To evaluate cardiovascular complications in SCI patients by comparing HRV and PWV between patients with and without SCI.METHODS In this cross-sectional pilot study,patients with(n = 60) and without SCI(n = 60) were recruited from December 7,2019 to January 21,2020.Each participant received a five-minute assessment of HRV and the cardiovascular system using the Medicore HRV Analyzer SA-3000 P.Differences in HRV and PWV parameters between participants with and without SCI were statistically examined.RESULTS We observed a significant difference between participants with and without SCI with respect to the standard deviation of all normal-to-normal intervals,square root of the mean sum of squared successive risk ratio interval differences,physical stress index,total power,very-low frequency,low frequency,high frequency,and arterial elasticity.CONCLUSION Patients with SCI have weaker sympathetic and parasympathetic activity as well as lower arterial elasticity compared to those without,suggesting that SCI may increase cardiac function loading.

Qi Gong and Heart Rate Variability: A Systematic Review

Qì Gōng is a type of exercise that involves meditation and is used for health. With a background from the martial arts, it is known also as an auto healing exercise with three main elements according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): body focus (posture and movement), breathing and mind focus (meditative elements). Heart rate variability is a tool that allows us to measure the autonomic system velocity to detect and respond to unexpected stimuli. So our goal was to build a systematic review of Qi Gong and Heart rate variability. PUBMED, EBSCO and Science Direct data bases were searched. Key terms (MeSH) were Heart Rate Variability and Ch’i Kung OR Qi Gong with a 10-year filter. Four independent reviewers analyzed all articles and excluded duplicated articles, articles in Chinese and articles with no adherence to the subject. The end result was 5 studies selected. Our results showed no significant improvements in HRV with the practice of Qì Gōng, probably because of data heterogeneity. We found 5 types of Qì Gōng, 3 different instruments and different time intervals to measure HRV and 2 different age groups in the studies. We can conclude that there is evidence that Qì Gōng can improve HRV but studies that would use the same parameters are needed to further confirm that.

Correlation between heart rate variability and pupillary reflex in healthy adult subjects under the influence of alcohol

This study explored the association between pupil area variation, heart rate variability, and fatigue, caused by alcohol consumption. Sixteen healthy young male volunteers were enrolled in this study for a series of structured physical examinations. Individual drinking volume was strictly assessed in accordance with the normalized experimental design. The motions of the subjects＇ pupils, as well as electrocardiograms were recorded by a computerized recording system, both before and after drinking alcohol. After alcohol intake, the pupil diameter, and both low frequency and standard deviation of all heartbeat interval indices of heart rate variability showed significant variations compared with the baseline. In addition, time- and frequency-domain indices of heart rate variability were negatively associated with pupil area. Thus the current study suggests that fatigue status may be determined by significant changes in pupil area and heart rate variability.

Protective effects of rice bran hydrolysates on heart rate variability,cardiac oxidative stress,and cardiac remodeling in high fat and high fructose diet-fed rats

Objective:To examine the ameliorative effect of rice bran hydrolysates(RBH)on metabolic disorders,cardiac oxidative stress,heart rate variability(HRV),and cardiac structural changes in high fat and high fructose(HFHF)-fed rats.Methods:Male Sprague-Dawley rats were daily fed either standard chow diet with tap water or an HFHF diet with 10%fructose in drinking water over 16 weeks.RBH(500 and 1000 mg/kg/day)was orally administered to the HFHF-diet-fed rats during the last 6 weeks of the study period.At the end of the treatment,metabolic parameters,oxidative stress,HRV,and cardiac structural changes were examined.Results:RBH administration significantly ameliorated metabolic disorders by improving lipid profiles,insulin sensitivity,and hemodynamic parameters.Moreover,RBH restored HRV,as evidenced by decreasing the ratio of low-frequency to highfrequency power of HRV,a marker of autonomic imbalance.Cardiac oxidative stress was also mitigated after RBH supplementation by decreasing cardiac malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl,upregulating eNOS expression,and increasing catalase activity in the heart.Furthermore,RBH mitigated cardiac structural changes by reducing cardiac hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis in HFHFdiet-fed rats.Conclusions:The present findings suggest that consumption of RBH may exert cardioprotective effects against autonomic imbalances,cardiac oxidative stress,and structural changes in metabolic syndrome.

Modeling of Heart Rate Variability Using Time-Frequency Representations

The heart rate variability signal is highly correlated with the respiration even at high workload exercise.It is also known that this phenomenon still exists during increasing exercise.In the current study,we managed to model this correlation during increasing exercise using the time varying integral pulse frequency modulation(TVIPFM)model that relates the mechanical modulation(MM)to the respiration and the cardiac rhythm.This modulation of the autonomic nervous system(ANS)is able to simultaneously decrease sympathetic and increase parasympathetic activity.The TVIPFM model takes into consideration the effect of the increasing exercise test,where the effect of a time-varying threshold on the heart period is studied.Our motivation is to analyze the heart rate variability(HRV)acquired by time varying integral pulse frequency modulation using time frequency representations.The estimated autonomic nervous system(ANS)modulating signal is filtered throughout the respiration using a time varying filtering,during exercise stress testing.And after summing power of the filtered signal,we compare the power of the filtered modulation of the ANS obtained with different time frequency representations:smoothed pseudo Wigner–Ville representation,spectrogram and their reassignments.After that,we used a student t-test p<0.01 to compare the power of heart rate variability in the frequency band of respiration and elsewhere.

The Effect of Circuit Training on Resting Heart Rate Variability, Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and Physical Fitness in Healthy Untrained Adults

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of circuit training (CT) on resting heart rate variability (HRV) and other cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors such as blood lipids and blood glucose and on fitness components. Twenty-four healthy untrained adults (age 26.5 ± 5.1 years;height 1.67 ± 8.4 m;weight 66.8 ± 15.1 kg;26.3% ± 5.2%;maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) 48.5 ± 10.0 ml.kg-1.min-1) were assigned to either CT (n = 12) involving bodyweight exercises, or control (CON, n = 12) groups. Prior to the start and following the end of the six-week training period, time-, frequency-domain and nonlinear measures of resting HRV, arterial blood pressure, body composition, fasting blood lipids, lipoproteins and glucose, VO2max, upper body muscular endurance (UBME) and abdominal and hip flexor (AHFME), back strength (BS) and handgrip were assessed. None of the resting HRV measures (P > 0.05) were affected by the CT intervention. However, diastolic blood pressure decreased (P = 0.03), lean body weight (P = 0.03) increased, VO2max (P = 0.03), UBME (P = 0.001), AHFME (P = 0.04), and BS (P = 0.03) were significantly higher following CT, whereas the other variables were not influenced by the CT. Six-week of CT involving bodyweight exercises has no significant impact on resting HRV. However, this type of training might decrease the risk for development of CVD by reducing arterial blood pressure and by improving body composition, aerobic capacity, muscular endurance and strength.

The association of salivary alpha-amylase, heart rate variability, and psychological stress on objectively measured sleep behaviors among college students

Objective:This study aimed to evaluate sleep behaviors among college students,to assess salivary alpha-amylase(sAA)and heart rate variability(HRV)in association with stress,and to investigate sleep-related factors including sAA,HRV,and stress among them.Methods:Saliva samples for sAA assessment and HRV measurements in the supine position were taken between 3 PM and 6 PM.The level of prolonged psychological stress for the previous week was evaluated using the Korean version of the Global Assessment of Recent Stress(GARS-K),and sleep behaviors were assessed using an actigraphy device.Results:A total of 86 healthy college students participated in this study.Sleep behaviors of the college students were not good,with 84%sleep efficiency(SE)and 62.7 min wake after sleep onset(WASO).The average sAA level was 65.8 U/mL in the participants.Although neither the sAA level nor HRV indices were significantly correlated with prolonged psychological stress,decreased normalized high frequency(nHF)on HRV was independently associated with a higher level of stress when adjusted for age and sex.Higher stress(r=-0.276,P=0.011)and lower sAA(r=0.266,P=0.030)had significant correlations with shorter time in bed;however,it was sAA that was independently associated with time in bed(β=0.244,p=0.044).Decreased nHF(β=0.245,P=0.027)and higher body mass index(BMI)(β=-0.224,P=0.043)were independently related to and poorer SE.Conclusions:Poor sleep behaviors were associated with decreased parasympathetic activity,a physiological change to psychological stress,rather than with psychological stress itself among college students.Thus,sAA and HRV should be considered as significant factors for impaired sleep behaviors in relation to psychological stress.

Drinking a Structured Water Product on Markers of Hydration,Airway Health and Heart Rate Variability in Thoroughbred Racehorses:a Small-scale,Clinical Field Trial

Racehorses in training are in situations of repeated stress that may have effects on hydration and health.It was hypothesized that daily consumption of a structured water(SW)product for 4 weeks will result in improved hydration,improved upper airway health and increased heart rate variability.Two groups of Thoroughbred racehorses matched for physiological,training and racing attributes were studied for 4 weeks.One group(n=17)received 10 L(about 15%)of their daily water as SW(followed by ad libitum filtered deep well water)and the control group(n=15)only filtered deep well water.Blood samples and bioelectrical impedance analysis(BIA)measures were obtained at baseline,2 and 4 weeks.Hydration was assessed using BIA.The upper airway was assessed by nasopharyngeal endoscopy at baseline and weekly within 60 minutes of breezing.On weekly breeze days heart rate was recorded at rest,during exercise and recovery and data were analysed for heart rate variability.Compared to controls,horses drinking SW showed increased hydration improved upper airway health post-breezing and increased heart rate variability.It is concluded that drinking 10 L daily of SW increased hydration and may have conferred some wellness benefits.

Effects of Yoga Exercises on Heart Rate Variability Parameters and Perceived Stress in Adolescent Students with High Score in Perceived Stress

Introduction: Hatha Yoga is a widely used form of holistic mind-body therapy for promoting health, and disease prevention like cardiovascular risks and part of treatment for neurological disorders. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Hatha yoga on the autonomic nervous system by tracking acute changes in the time-domain and frequency-domain metrics of heart rate variability (HRV) in healthy International Baccalaureate students arranged in 3 different groups. Methods: The prospective interventional study was conducted among adolescent students in China. Thirty-six adolescent students were divided in three groups: 12 Hatha yoga experimental group participants;a control group of 12 students without participation in any activity and a recreational sport group of 12 other students. Outcomes measured were HRV parameters such as SDNN, RMSSD LF, HF, and LF/HF. Also, a Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 was used to measure stress and anxiety score in terms of Cognitive stress, Somatic Stress and Self Confidence. Results: Compared to baseline values, the Hatha yoga experiment group demonstrated a significant increase in HRV indices: SDNN 87.62 ± 13.89 (>0.0001) and RMSDD 86.61 ± 7.78 (>0.0001) respectively. In contrast it was documented after the 3 weeks of exposure to yoga training a statistically significant decrease in the frequency domain of LF 1911.53 ± 882.15 (0.0464) compared to baseline values. After completion of intervention the yoga experiment group HF (ms2) values were increased 3430.40 ± 858.38 (>0.0001). Decrease and increase in the HF (ms2) in the control and Hatha yoga group were statistically significant after following Hatha yoga. Cognitive anxiety 18.08 ± 6.30 (>0.0001) and Somatic anxiety 17.50 ± 6.33 (>0.0001) decreased after intervention with yoga and self-confidence increased significantly 32.50 ± 1.17 (>0.0001). Conclusions: The investigation showed a significant increase of HRV parameters and cardiac autonomic function as a result of exposure to Yoga practice. Also, there was significant evidence of decrease in cognitive stress and somatic stress;increased values of self-confidence at the end of three weeks yoga exposure in comparison to the baseline values.

The Effect of Breathing Route on Heart Rate Variability—A within Subject Comparative Study

Background: The effect of traffic related emissions on Heart Rate Variability (HRV) has been previously demonstrated. However, the results of different studies on the relationship between ambient pollutants and specifically carbon monoxide (CO) on HRV are inconclusive and appear to reflect personal differences. The differences in methodology including breathing style and participants under study can possibly attribute to this variability. The aim of the present study is to assess the effect of the breathing route (Nasal/Oral) on the relationship between CO concentration and HRV. Methodology: Forty healthy participants (25 females, 15 males) between the ages of 15 - 50 years were included in the study. The participants strolled in a central bus station, staying for 10 minutes in three designated locations alternating nasal and oral breathing. CO concentration and HRV were continuously monitored. Frequency (LnLF, LnHF, LnLF/HF) and time domain (LnSDNN, LnRMSSD) HRV indices were computed. Analysis: MANCOVA, with HRV indices being the dependent variables and CO, gender and age being the independent variables was employed. Results: Significant interaction effects between breathing route and CO, and breathing route and gender on HRV (LnLF/HF) were found (p = 0.04 and 0.01 respectively). Both CO and age were found to affect LnSDNN and LnRMSSD. Conclusion: Breathing route emerges as a possible modifier of the relationship between air pollution and HRV and thus contributes to interpersonal differences obtained in studies investigating the effect of environmental pollution and HRV.

Analysis on the Effects of Shensong Yangxin Capsules and Amiodarone on Heart Rate Variability Indices and Inflammatory Factors in Patients with Arrhythmia

Objective:To study the effects of Shensong Yangxin capsules and amiodarone on heart rate variability indexes and inflammatory factors in the treatment of patients with arrhythmia.Methods:The research subjects were selected patients with arrhythmia admitted in our hospitaFs department from October 2018 to October 2019,and a total of 70 patients were divided into two groups.35 subjects in the control group were treated with amiodarone alone,and 35 subjects in the observation group were treated with Shensongyangxin capsule in combination with amiodarone for comparisons in treatment effects,heart rate variability indices,inflammatory factors,and adverse reactions.Results:After observation,the treatment efficiency in the observation group was higher than that in the control group(P<0.05).Before treatment,there was no difference in heart rate variability indices between the two groups(P>0.05),after treatment,the improvement in patients of the observation group was better than that of the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,the inflammatory factors of the two groups of patients decreased,and the indicators of the observation group were comparably lower than those of the control group(P<0.05).In the comparison of adverse reactions,the observation group showed a lower incidence of adverse reactions after treatment than the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:In the treatment of patients with arrhythmia,the combined use of Shensong Yangxin capsules and amiodarone has more significant therapeutic effects,which can effectively improve the patient's heart rate variability indices,reduce the inflammatory factors,and relieve the symptoms in patients.The incidence of adverse reactions is low and the safety is quite high,therefore it has great value in clinical applications.

Stress prevention by modulation of autonomic nervous system (heart rate variability): A preliminary study using transcranial direct current stimulation

Introduction: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive, technique for brain stimulation. Anodal stimulation causes neuronal depolarisation and long-term potentiation, while cathodal stimulation causes hyperpolarisation and long-term depression. Stressors are associated with an increase in sympathetic cardiac control, a decrease in parasympathetic control, or both. Associated with these reactions is a frequently reported increase in Low Frequency (LF) Heart Rate Variability (HRV), a decrease in High Frequency (HF) power, and/or an increase in the LF/HF ratio. Objectives and aims: The present work aims to explore the tDCS potential in the modulation of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), through indirect stimulation of Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC). Methods: Two subjects, a 39 year old female and a 49 year old male, gave informed consent. Saline soaked synthetic sponges involving two, thick, metalic (stainless steel) rectangles, with an area of 25 cm2 each have been used as electrodes, connected to Iomed Phoresor II Auto device. It has been delivered a 2 mA current, for 20 minutes, over the left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) (Anode). Spectrum analysis (cStress software) of HRV has been performed before and after tDCS administration. Results: The female/male subject results of LF power, HF power and LF/HF ratio, before tDCS administration, were, respectively: 50.1 nu/60 nu, 46.1 nu/21.7 nu and 1.087/2.771;and, after tDCS administration, respectively: 33.5 nu/52.7 nu, 47.6 nu/ 22.8 nu and 0.704/2.312. Conclusions: tDCS over the left DLPFC (left ACC) increased parasympathetic activity and decreased sympathetic activity, suggesting the importance of tDCS in the management of stress-related disorders.

Physiological signal processing in heart rate variability measurement:A focus on spectral analysis

Human physiological(biological)systems function in such a way that their complexity requires mathematical analysis.The functioning of the brain,heart and other parts are so complex to be easily comprehended.Under conditions of rest or work,the temporal distances of successive heartbeats are subject to fluctuations,thereby forming the basis of Heart Rate Variability(HRV).In normal conditions,the human is persistently exposed to highly changing and dynamic situational demands.With these demands in mind,HRV can,therefore,be considered as the human organism’s ability to cope with and adapt to continuous situational requirements,both physiologically and emotionally.Fast Fourier Transform(FFT)is used in various physiological signal processing,such as heart rate variability.FFT allows a spectral analysis of HRV and is great help in HRV analysis and interpretation.

High frequency heart rate variability evoked by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation over the medial prefrontal cortex: A preliminary investigation on brain processing of acute stressor-evoked cardiovascular reactivity

Introduction: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive technique for brain stimulation. Repetitive TMS (rTMS) over the medial Prefrontal Cortex (mPFC), Broadman Area 10 (BA10) may stimulate transynaptically perigenual Anterior Cingulate Cortex (pACC, BA 33), insula, amigdala, hypothalamus and connected branches of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) involved in stressorevoked cardiovascular reactivity. Stressors are associated with an increase in sympathetic cardiac control, a decrease in parasympathetic control, or both, and, consequently, an increase in systolic/stroke volume, total vascular impedance/resistance and heart rate, a decrease of baroreflex sensitivity, i.e., an increase in blood pressure/arterial tension. Objectives and Aims: The present work aims, using TMS and accordingly to Gianaros modeling, based on functional neuroimaging studies and previous neuroanatomical data from animal models, to probe the connectivity of brain systems involved in stressor-evoked cardiovascular reactivity and to explore TMS potential as a tool for detection and stratification of individual differences concerning this reactivity and hemorreological risk factors correlated with the development of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). Methods: Both subjects, a 52 years old male and a 40 years old female with previous increased Low Frequency (LF)/High Frequency (HF) Heart Rate Variability (HRV) ratios (respectively, 4.209/3.028) without decompensated cardiorespiratory symptoms, gave informed consent, and ethico-legal issues have been observed. Electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring has been performed for safety purposes. Immediately after administration, over the mPFC, of 15 pulses of rTMS, during 60 second, with an inductive electrical current, at the stimulating coil, of 85.9 Ampère per μsecond and 66 Ampère per μsecond, respectively, for male and female subjects (a “figure-of-eight” coil and magnetic stimulator MagLite, Dantec/Medtronic, have been used), HRV spectrum analysis (cStress software) has been performed (during 5 minutes, in supine position). Results: In both subjects, LF power, HF power and LF/HF ratio results, before and after rTMS administration, pointed towards sympathetic attenuation and parasympathetic augmentation (respectively, in male/female subject: decreased LF power—65.1 nu/69.3 nu, before rTMS;56.1 nu/41.6 nu, after rTMS;increased HF power—15.5 nu/22.9 nu, before rTMS;30.9 nu/45.5 nu, after rTMS). Conclusions: In this preliminary investigation, the existence of a link between “mind” and heart’s function has been put in evidence, through a reversible “virtual” lesion, of brain systems involved in cardiovascular control, caused by TMS. Repetitive TMS over mPFC decreased brain function involved in stressorevoked cardiovascular reactivity, suggesting the importance of TMS in the management of stress-related cardiovascular disorders.

Machine learning noise exposure detection of rail transit drivers using heart rate variability

Previous studies have found that drivers’physiological conditions can deteriorate under noise conditions,which poses a potential hazard when driving.As a result,it is crucial to identify the status of drivers when exposed to different noises.However,such explo-rations are rarely discussed with short-term physiological indicators,especially for rail transit drivers.In this study,an experiment involving 42 railway transit drivers was conducted with a driving simulator to assess the impact of noise on drivers’physiological responses.Considering the individuals’heterogeneity,this study introduced drivers’noise annoyance to measure their self-noise-adaption.The variances of drivers’heart rate variability(HRV)along with different noise adaptions are explored when exposed to different noise conditions.Several machine learning approaches(support vector machine,K-nearest neighbour and random forest)were then used to classify their physiological status under different noise conditions according to the HRV and drivers’self-noise adaptions.Results indicate that the volume of traffic noise negatively affects drivers’performance in their routines.Drivers with different noise adaptions but exposed to a fixed noise were found with discrepant HRV,demonstrating that noise adaption is highly associated with drivers’physiological status under noises.It is also found that noise adaption inclusion could raise the accuracy of classifications.Overall,the random forests classifier performed the best in identifying the physiological status when exposed to noise conditions for drivers with different noise adaptions.