Spectral analysis of heart rate variability as an indicator of driver fatigue

The effect of distance driven on three physiological variables taken to be indicators of fatigue was investigated on a 340 km highway circuit with eight inexperienced drivers as subjects. The physiological variables used were spectral values of heart rate variability in the 0.05-0.15Hz region (0.1 Hz HRV) supplemented by standard deviation of heart rate mean (S.D. HRV) and heart rate mean (HR). The analysis showed a significant relationship between 0.1 Hz HRV and distance driven while S.D. HRV and HR showed no direct relationship. The reason for this differential effect on the three physiological variables was discussed, and it was concluded that 0.1 Hz HRV seems to be a sensitive indicator of driver fatigue.