Arm photoplethysmogram wave shape parameters, specifically time from dicrotic notch to end diastole and time from pulse onset to systolic peak, responded significantly to increased mental stress.
Can arm photoplethysmogram (PPG) wave shape parameters assess mental stress in laboratory conditions?
Specific wave shape parameters from arm photoplethysmograms can serve as non-invasive indices of mental stress, complementing traditional heart rate metrics.
Mental stress is a major burden for our society. Invasive and non‐invasive methods have been proposed to monitor and quantify it using various sensors on and off body. In this Letter, the authors investigated the use of the arm photoplethysmogram (PPG) to assess mental stress in laboratory conditions. Results were in correspondence with their previous in‐silico study which guided the present study. Three wave shape parameters were identified for stress assessment from the PPG signal: (i) the time from dicrotic notch to end diastole; (ii) the time from pulse onset to systolic peak; and (iii) the ratio of diastolic to systolic area. The proposed in‐vivo results showed that the two first parameters responded significantly to increased mental stress and to a breathing relaxation procedure, complementing heart rate, heart rate variability, and pulse transit time as indices of stress.
Celka et al. (Wed,) conducted a letter in Mental stress. Arm photoplethysmogram (PPG) was evaluated on Response of PPG wave shape parameters to mental stress and relaxation. Arm photoplethysmogram wave shape parameters, specifically time from dicrotic notch to end diastole and time from pulse onset to systolic peak, responded significantly to increased mental stress.