Heart rate variability analysis manual: low frequency spectral power is not an accurate index of sympathetic tone.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 24-27)Heart rate variability research measures millisecond deviations in consecutive heart periods (R-R waves). Inductive cardiography and plethysomgraphy allow our research group to decompose each beat to study the autonomic nervous system. Using respiratory sinus arrythmia RSA, and pre-ejection period PEP indices we witness the dynamic interplay between the two branches of the ANS. Parasympathetic withdrawal, and linear heart rate models purpose a static relationship between the sympathetic SNS and parasympathetic nervous systems PNS. By decomposing heart rate signals our data suggests that this relationship exhibits complex behavior that is very dynamic. The research that we perform is complex and requires a great deal of training. Thus, the purpose of my graduate project was to create a manual that would teach students how to operate the equipment that we use, and to understand the relationship between collected variables