Spectrum analysis of heart rate variability

Author

Xuming Wang, New Jersey Institute of Technology

Document Type

Thesis

Date of Award

5-31-1989

Degree Name

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering - (M.S.)

Department

Electrical Engineering

First Advisor

Stanley S. Reisman

Second Advisor

Peter Engler

Third Advisor

Walter N. Tapp

Abstract

This research investigated the respiratory influence on heart rate variability. The heart rate spectrum was obtained from the heart rate variability signal which was extracted from the electrocardiogram We then studied the magnitude of the respiration peak in the heart rate spectrum and examined the dependence of the magnitude of this peak on breathing frequency, subject and day.

An experiment designed to simultaneously acquire the electrocardiogram and the respiration signal was conducted on ten people ranging from 22 to 55 years of age (3 females, 7 males). Three tests were performed on each subject. In each test, 2 different postures (sitting and standing), and 2 different breathing patterns (natural and paced breathing) were examined.

We found that there is a exponential relation existing between magnitude of the respiration peak in the heart rate spectrum and breathing frequency. That is Magnitude = e^{AxFrequency+B}. The magnitude decreases more dramatically in the standing posture than in the sitting posture. This change due to posture possibly reflects the gravity effect on the respiration-heart rate variability coupling. Howere, this posture relation is not statistically significant.

We also found that the magnitude and frequency relation is subject and day independent. However, adjustment for subject produces an significant change in level during paced breathing.

During natural breathing, subject has much more influence on frequency than on magnitude in the sitting posture while subject has equal effect on frequency and magnitude in the standing posture. We also found that the log respiration power (magnitude of respiration peak in the respiration spectrum) has a linear relation with breathing frequency. This implies that the power of one's breathing will decrease exponentially while his breathing increases linearly.

Recommended Citation

Wang, Xuming, "Spectrum analysis of heart rate variability" (1989). Theses. 2943.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/2943