<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a principal regulatory system for maintaining homeostasis, adaptability and physiological flexibility of the organism at rest as well as in response to stress. In the aspect of autonomic regulatory inputs on the cardiovascular system, recent research is focused on the study of exaggerated/diminished cardiovascular reactivity in response to mental stress as a risk factor for health complications, e.g. hypertension. Thus, the analysis of biological signals reflecting a physiological shift in sympathovagal balance during stress in the manner of vagal withdrawal associated with sympathetic overactivity is important. The heart rate variability, i.e. “beat-to-beat” oscillations of heart rate around its mean value, reflects mainly complex neurocardiac parasympathetic control. The electrodermal activity could represent “antagonistic” sympathetic activity, the so-called “sympathetic arousal” in response to stress. The detailed study of the physiological parameters under various stressful stimuli and in recovery phase using traditional and novel mathematical analyses could reveal discrete alterations in sympathovagal balance. This article summarizes the importance of heart rate variability and electrodermal activity assessment as the potential noninvasive indices indicating autonomic nervous system activity in response to mental stress.</p></abstract>

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a principal regulatory system for maintaining homeostasis, adaptability and physiological flexibility of the organism at rest as well as in response to stress. In the aspect of autonomic regulatory inputs on the cardiovascular system, recent research is focused on the study of exaggerated/diminished cardiovascular reactivity in response to mental stress as a risk factor for health complications, e.g. hypertension. Thus, the analysis of biological signals reflecting a physiological shift in sympathovagal balance during stress in the manner of vagal withdrawal associated with sympathetic overactivity is important. The heart rate variability, i.e. “beat-to-beat” oscillations of heart rate around its mean value, reflects mainly complex neurocardiac parasympathetic control. The electrodermal activity could represent “antagonistic” sympathetic activity, the so-called “sympathetic arousal” in response to stress. The detailed study of the physiological parameters under various stressful stimuli and in recovery phase using traditional and novel mathematical analyses could reveal discrete alterations in sympathovagal balance. This article summarizes the importance of heart rate variability and electrodermal activity assessment as the potential noninvasive indices indicating autonomic nervous system activity in response to mental stress.

Heart Rate Variability and Electrodermal Activity as Noninvasive Indices of Sympathovagal Balance in Response to Stress

Mala Hora 4, 03601 Martin, Slovak Republic. Phone/fax: +421 43 2633404

Department of Physiology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Martin, Slovak Republic

Acta Medica Martiniana

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a principal regulatory system for maintaining homeostasis, adaptability and physiological flexibility of the organism at...

Heart Rate Variability and Electrodermal Activity as Noninvasive Indices of Sympathovagal Balance in Response to Stress

Published Online: May 14, 2013

Page range: 5 - 13

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acm-2013-0006

This content is open access.