Multi-biosignals analysis the effect of peripheral nerve stimulation on skin conductance and heart rate variability

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the influence of standard electrical stimulation on human electrophysiology. Methods: A total of 10 healthy subjects were submitted to the same protocol. The electrical stimuli were applied on the median nerve of the left wrist. Blood Volume Pulse (BVP) and Electrodermal Activity (EDA) signals were acquired from the index finger through an oximeter and from both the abductor pollicis muscle and the 3^rd palmar interosseous muscle of the right hand, respectively. Nerve stimulation was performed using increasing intensities current: range from 5 to 30 mA, with 1mA step and applying 20 stimuli per step. Heart Rate (HR) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) were computed, from the analysis of the latency between BVP pulses, in basal state and during stimulation. EDA parameters response latency, response rise time and readaptation slope were computed for each burst. Discussion: Electrical stimulation reveals to influence several parameters of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). It was easily detected an EDA rise response for each of the applied bursts and also an increase of the HRV during stimulation.