Variance in Heart Rate Variability Between Healthy and Concussed Individuals

Heart-Rate Variability (HRV) is the interval between each individual heartbeat, from p-wave to p-wave on an electrocardiogram (ECG). In general, a high HRV indicates that a person has a healthy heart with effective stress management skills. This value means that one branch of the nervous system is not overpowering the other, sympathetic vs parasympathetic–for example. Generally, HRV is related to vagal tone, the ability for your body to activate the parasympathetic system and relax when imminent danger is not present. However, when someone is concussed, the entirety of their autonomic regulation can be affected such that their HRV is altered. A meta-analysis conducted by Arakaki et al. suggests that “high HRV links with better executive function, decision-making ability, and emotional regulation that benefit health and wellbeing” (Arakaki et al, 2023). This study suggests that there is a strong bidirectional relationship between the heart and brain, thus it is important to understand what the physiologic effects on the cardiovascular system and the rest of the body are when a patient has been concussed. Therefore, our experiment aims to evaluate autonomic nervous system (ANS) function by analyzing HRV parameters in individuals with and without a history of concussion. We will analyze the data collected from wearable devices that capture PPG (Photoplethysmography) ECG signals to identify ANS dysfunction, potential biomarkers for concussion recovery, and implications for physiological and cognitive rehabilitation strategies.