Accelerometry in cardiovascular psychophysiology:New perspectives for ambulatory research

Interpretation of real-life stress-related cardiovascular responses requires knowledge of both the type and the amount of daily activities, since changes in body posture and locomotor activity have a profound effect on ambulatory recorded cardiovascular signals. Simultaneous recording of cardiovascular and locomotor activity may therefore facilitate the interpretation of prolonged cardiovascular measurements in clinical and experimental research. We evaluated accelerometry as a method to quantify both static (lying, sitting, standing) and dynamic activities in a study that was designed to assess the sedative effects of benzodiazepines on cardiovascular functioning in relation to normal daily activities. Our validation study showed that accelerometry by means of body-mounted sensors forms a valid method to quantify aspects of normal daily activities. Furthermore, our quantification of body postures and physical activity, in relation to heart rate, proved to be sufficiently sensitive to differentiate the placebo from the pharmacological conditions. Ambulatory monitoring of combined cardiovascular and accelerometer signals therefore proved to be a promising method for psychophysiological research

Accelerometry in cardiovascular psychophysiology: New perspectives for ambulatory research

Interpretation of real-life stress-related cardiovascular responses requires knowledge of both the type and the amount of daily activities, since changes in body posture and locomotor activity have a profound effect on ambulatory recorded cardiovascular signals. Simultaneous recording of cardiovascular and locomotor activity may therefore facilitate the interpretation of prolonged cardiovascular measurements in clinical and experimental research. We evaluated accelerometry as a method to quantify both static (lying, sitting, standing) and dynamic activities in a study that was designed to assess the sedative effects of benzodiazepines on cardiovascular functioning in relation to normal daily activities. Our validation study showed that accelerometry by means of body-mounted sensors forms a valid method to quantify aspects of normal daily activities. Furthermore, our quantification of body postures and physical activity, in relation to heart rate, proved to be sufficiently sensitive to differentiate the placebo from the pharmacological conditions. Ambulatory monitoring of combined cardiovascular and accelerometer signals therefore proved to be a promising method for psychophysiological research

Accelerometry in cardiovascular psychophysiology:New perspectives for ambulatory research

Interpretation of real-life stress-related cardiovascular responses requires knowledge of both the type and the amount of daily activities, since changes in body posture and locomotor activity have a profound effect on ambulatory recorded cardiovascular signals. Simultaneous recording of cardiovascular and locomotor activity may therefore facilitate the interpretation of prolonged cardiovascular measurements in clinical and experimental research. We evaluated accelerometry as a method to quantify both static (lying, sitting, standing) and dynamic activities in a study that was designed to assess the sedative effects of benzodiazepines on cardiovascular functioning in relation to normal daily activities. Our validation study showed that accelerometry by means of body-mounted sensors forms a valid method to quantify aspects of normal daily activities. Furthermore, our quantification of body postures and physical activity, in relation to heart rate, proved to be sufficiently sensitive to differentiate the placebo from the pharmacological conditions. Ambulatory monitoring of combined cardiovascular and accelerometer signals therefore proved to be a promising method for psychophysiological research

Spot the red herring:Breastfeeding, fruitpurée, and infant autonomic functioning-the generation R study

Several studies have suggested that breastfeeding is related to infant autonomic functioning. The authors investigated whether this is a causal relation. In all, 444 mothers reported breastfeeding practices 2 mo postpartum. Infant autonomic functioning was assessed by heart rate variability at age 14 mo, after discontinuation of breastfeeding. The dose-dependent association between breastfeeding and infant autonomic functioning was tested with linear regression models adjusted for multiple confounders. The authors investigated the relation of fruitpurée consumption with infant autonomic functioning. Fruitpurée consumption has similar socioeconomic epiphenomena but is not related via the same causal mechanism to autonomic regulation as breastfeeding. Nonbreastfed infants had high sympathetic modulation [7.87 log (ms)/SD, 95% CI: 7.71-8.02], partially breastfed infants had intermediate sympathetic modulation [7.75 log (ms)/SD, 95% CI: 7.51-7.82], sympathetic modulation of exclusively breastfed infants was low [7.63 log (ms)/SD, 95% CI: 7.50-7.77]. However, this association could be explained by socioeconomic confounders. Furthermore, fruitpurée consumption was similarly associated with reduced infant sympathetic modulation. The association between breastfeeding practices and infant sympathetic modulation was accounted for by socioeconomic and environmental factors. We found a similar association between fruitpurée consumption and autonomic functioning, further suggesting that the association between breastfeeding and infant autonomic functioning is noncausal