Methods for assessment of effects of habitual exercise on the autonomic nervous function using plethysmogram

The present paper has proposed two methods for obtaining the linear correlation of the baroreflex system without measurement of blood pressure. One is based on the pulse wave transit time which needs both the electrocardiogram and the photoplethysmogram. The other is based on the photoplethysmogram only. The results from the experiments showed that the effect of habitual exercise and the Valsalva maneuver can be verified quantitatively. The proposed methods are possible to be used for a test of the autonomic nervous function at home.