Editorial Type:
Article Category: Other
 | 
Online Publication Date: 01 Sept 2013

Don't Add or Miss a Beat: A Guide to Cleaner Heart Rate Variability Recordings

PhD, BCB and
DC
Page Range: 121 – 130
DOI: 10.5298/1081-5937-41.3.04
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Heart rate variability (HRV) refers to the beat-to-beat variation in the time intervals between heart contractions. This phenomenon reflects physiological processes that are trained in many biofeedback applications. HRV is routinely monitored using an electrocardiograph (ECG) or photoplethysmograph (PPG), supplemented by a respirometer. This article explains the importance of inspecting raw signals, describes the effects of prescription medications and social drugs, identifies common sources of signal contamination, and recommends practical precautions to increase recording fidelity.

Keywords: heart rate variability; respiration; biofeedback
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Figure 1 .

The generation of the electrocardiogram. Credit: Alila Sao Mai/Shutterstock.com

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Figure 2 .

The interbeat interval (IBI) is calculated between the R-spikes of successive heartbeats.

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Figure 3 .

Electrocardiograph (ECG) leads © Bork/Shutterstock.com

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Figure 4 .

Pre-gelled disposable electrocardiograph (ECG) electrode.

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Figure 5 .

Chest placement.

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Figure 6 .

Forearm placement.

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Figure 7 .

Wrist placement.

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Figure 8 .

Lower torso placement.

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Figure 9 .

A missed beat.

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Figure 10 .

Line interference artifact.

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Figure 11 .

Electromyography artifact.

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Figure 12 .

Movement artifact.

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Figure 13 .

Direct-current (DC) offset artifact.

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Figure 14 .

Surface electromyography recording showing the effects of a cell phone located 0.4 in. (1 cm) away from the electrodes (reproduced with permission from Erik Peper, PhD, BCB).

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Figure 15 .

Polarity artifact.

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Figure 16 .

Respiratory sinus arrhythmia. Heart rate (HR; lower tracing) increases as the abdomen expands during inhalation (upper tracing) and decreases as it contracts during exhalation.

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Figure 17 .

Photoplethysmograph (PPG) sensor.

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Figure 18 .

Photoelectric transducer detection of relative blood flow.

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Figure 19 .

The blood volume pulse (BVP) signal.

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Figure 20 .

Attachment using an elastic band.

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Figure 21 .

Attachment using Coban™ tape.

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Figure 22 .

Changes in blood volume pulse (BVP) amplitude with hand placement below and above the heart.

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Figure 23 .

Movement artifact.

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Figure 24 .

Blood pressure-mediated drifts.

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Figure 25 .

Movement artifact due to repetitive finger movements.

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Figure 26 .

Pressure artifact.

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Figure 27 .

Cold artifact.

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Figure 28 .

Respirometer.

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Figure 29 .

Abdominal respirometer placement.

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Figure 30 .

A loose sensor band results in clipping in the left half of the display.

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Figure 31 .

Sinusoidal respirometer signal pattern.

Contributor Notes

Correspondence: Fred Shaffer, PhD, BCB, Barnett Hall 2400G, Truman State University, 100 E. Normal, Kirksville, MO 63501-1820, email: fshaffer@truman.edu.
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