[Elimination of respiratory effects on motion-induced changes in heart rate]

As part of a comprehensive movement study, the cardiac response induced by voluntary movement of the right and left index fingers was analysed. Since subjects synchronised movement and respiration, a special method that permitted the differentiation of movement-induced from respiratory-related effects was employed. This method is described, and its advantages over the standard method of estimating stimulus-induced cardiac responses are discussed. The results obtained in three subjects are presented, and the impact of the synchronisation of movement and respiration on the induced cardiac response demonstrated.