Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Accuracy of the StressEraser® in the Detection of Cardiac Rhythms

  • Published:
Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

StressEraser® is a commercially marketed biofeedback device designed to enhance heart rate variability. StressEraser® makes its internal calculations on beat-to-beat measures of finger pulse intervals. However, the accuracy and precision of StressEraser® in quantifying interbeat intervals using finger pulse intervals has not been evaluated against standard laboratory equipment using R–R intervals. Accuracy was assessed by simultaneously recording interbeat intervals using StressEraser® and a standard laboratory ECG system. The interbeat intervals were highly correlated between the systems. The average deviation in interbeat interval recordings between the systems was approximately 6 ms. Moreover, correlations approached unity between the systems on estimates of heart period, heart rate, and heart rate variability. Feedback from StressEraser® is based on an interbeat time series that provides sufficient information to provide an excellent estimate of the dynamic changes in heart rate and heart rate variability. The slight variations between StressEraser® and the laboratory equipment in quantifying heart rate and heart rate variability are due to features related to monitoring heart rate with finger pulse: (1) a lack in precision in the peak of the finger pulse relative to the clearly defined inflection point in the R-wave, and (2) contribution of variations in pulse transit time.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barry, R. J., & Mitchell, F. H. (1987). A comparison of phasic cardiac responses derived from the electrocardiogram and the peripheral pulse. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 5, 73–78.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gamelin, F. X., Berthoin, S., & Bosquet, L. (2006). Validity of the Polar S810 heart rate monitor to measure R-R intervals at rest. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 38(5), 887–893.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heilman, K. J., & Porges, S. W. (2007). Accuracy of the LifeShirt (Vivometrics) in the detection of cardiac rhythms. Biological Psychology, 75, 300–305.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jennings, J. R., Westervelt, W. W., & Ackles, P. K. (1987). On plethysmographic measures of heart rate responses. In P. K. Ackles, J. R. Jennings, & M. G. H. Coles (Eds.), Advances in psychophysiology (vol. 2, pp. 233–239), New York: JAI Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porges, S. W. (1985). Method and apparatus for evaluating rhythmic oscillations in aperiodic physiological response systems. US patent, 4,510,944.

  • Porges, S. W., & Bohrer, R. E. (1990). Analyses of periodic processes in psychophysiological research. In: T. J. Caccioppo & L. G. Tassinary (Eds.), Principles of psychophysiology: Physical, social, and inferential elements (pp. 708–753). New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porges, S. W., & Byrne, E. A. (1992). Research methods for measurement of heart rate and respiration. Biological Psychology, 34(2–3), 93–130.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The project described was supported by NIH Grant Number R21 MH067446. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of NIH. We would like to thank Helicor for providing the StressEraser® devices for evaluation as described in the manuscript.

Disclosure

S.W. Porges is a member of the Helicor Scientific Advisory Board.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Brain-Body Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1601 West Taylor Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA

    Keri J. Heilman, Mika Handelman, Gregory Lewis & Stephen W. Porges

Authors
  1. Keri J. Heilman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mika Handelman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gregory Lewis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Stephen W. Porges
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Keri J. Heilman.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Heilman, K.J., Handelman, M., Lewis, G. et al. Accuracy of the StressEraser® in the Detection of Cardiac Rhythms. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 33, 83–89 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-008-9054-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-008-9054-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation