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Pulse Transit Time in the Analysis of Autonomic Nervous System Effects on the Cardiovascular System
Author(s) -
Weiss Theodore,
Del Bo Alberto,
Reichek Nathaniel,
Engelman Karl
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
psychophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.661
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1469-8986
pISSN - 0048-5772
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8986.1980.tb00136.x
Subject(s) - autonomic nervous system , heart rate , phenylephrine , sympathetic nervous system , psychology , anesthesia , parasympathetic nervous system , blood pressure , cardiology , pulse (music) , peripheral , pulse rate , medicine , detector , electrical engineering , engineering
ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was the development of a simple method for assessing autonomic nervous system (ANS) effects on the cardiovascular system. Pulse transit time (PTT) is the interval between ventricular electrical activity and the peripheral appearance of the pulse (here measured by ear densitography). Six normal subjects were studied with six drugs which either enhanced or blocked activity of one of the three major divisions of the ANS: parasympathetic, beta‐sympathetic, alpha‐sympathetic. Data analysis revealed characteristic patterns of change in PTT and heart rate (HR) which permitted differentiation of five of the six drugs' effects. Vagal enhancement (edrophonium) and alpha‐sympathetic enhancement (phenylephrine)—which reflexly also increases vagal tone to the heart—could not be distinguished from one another unless blood pressure also was monitored. Monitoring of PTT and HR offers a simple, non‐invasive method which can be used on‐line to evaluate ANS effects on the cardiovascular system.