I am trying the determine how effective HRV is at quantifying transient psychophysiological stress in comparison to blood pressure, the experiment comprises of 4 (45 second long) stressors with 3 minutes baseline in between. Which HRV frequency range ( LF, HF or LF/HF ratio) should I use and why ?
This is still a complicated issue and there is not any frequency band clearly represent stress or any other exact physiological situation. But you maybe focus on "LF band and increase in LF/HF ratio" because according to wide accepted view, 0.04 - 0.15 Hz (LF band) may reflect sympathetic activation.
Hi Samreen,
If you haven't accessed it yet, the 1996 Standards of Measurements by Malik Article Heart Rate Variability: Standards of Measurements, Physiolog...
are still applicable to current HRV research. Germane to your question would be the sub-sections spectral components - Short-term recordings and Summary and Recommendations for Interpretation of HRV Components.Also, this article by Shaffer and Ginsberg Article An Overview of Heart Rate Variability Metrics and Norms
offers a good summary of both frequency and time-domain HRV measures.In direct response to your question, LF-HRV can be influenced by both the PNS and SNS, and at rest, it doesn't offer a good representation of sympathetic innervation of the heart, but rather baroreflex activity. Article A healthy heart is not a metronome: An integrative review of...
Good luck with your project.
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