Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026

Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Activity in Children
Published on: April 29, 2013
Methods for assessment of effects of habitual exercise on the autonomic nervous function using plethysmogram
Makoto Yoshizawa1, Norihiro Sugita, Tomoyuki Yambe
1Research Division on Advanced Information Technology, Cyberscience Center, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan. yoshizawa@isc.tohoku.ac.jp
Abstract:
The present paper has proposed two methods for obtaining the linear correlation of the baroreflex system without measurement of blood pressure. One is based on the pulse wave transit time which needs both the electrocardiogram and the photoplethysmogram. The other is based on the photoplethysmogram only. The results from the experiments showed that the effect of habitual exercise and the Valsalva maneuver can be verified quantitatively. The proposed methods are possible to be used for a test of the autonomic nervous function at home.
Related Concept Videos
Pulse rhythm
Conversely, an irregular pulse pattern is termed dysrhythmia, stemming from disruptions in cardiac muscle...
Regulation of Pulse
Electrocardiogram
Three major waveforms are present in a typical ECG recording: the P wave, the QRS complex, and the T...
Exercise Stress Test
Exercise stress testing, commonly known as a treadmill test, is a noninvasive procedure used to evaluate cardiovascular function and diagnose heart conditions.
Definition
An exercise stress test measures the heart's response to exertion using a treadmill or stationary bicycle. Chest electrodes record the heart's electrical activity through an ECG, and blood pressure is monitored regularly.
Purposes
Assessment of the Cardiovascular System III: Palpation
Jugular Venous Pressure (JVP) Measurement
Position the patient at a thirty- to forty-five-degree angle or in a semi-fowler's position. Look for the highest point of pulsation in the internal jugular vein and measure the vertical distance to the angle of Loius or sternal angle. A normal JVP is 3-4 cm above the...

