Blood volume pulse (BVP) derived vagal tone (VT) between 5 and 7 years of age: A methodological investigation of measurement and longitudinal stability. Issue 1 (5th November 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Heathers, James A. J.; Fink, Elian; Kuhnert, Rebecca‐Lee; de Rosnay, Marc
• Is Part Of: Developmental psychobiology. Volume 56:Issue 1(2014)
• Page Start: 23
• Page End: 35
• Publication Date: 2012-11-05
• Subjects: Psychobiology -- Periodicals; 155
• DOI: 10.1002/dev.21088
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0012-1630

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="dev21088-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <p>The present study evaluated the possibility of collecting cardiac vagal tone data using a photoplethysmograph, and its stability and continuity in a longitudinal sample of early‐school aged children. A method for the optical (i.e., blood volume pulse) estimation of heart rate was established in a pilot study. Then the longitudinal stability and continuity in photoplethysmograph‐derived vagal tone was assessed in 114 children (56 girls) at three sessions between 5 and 7 years of age. Results indicate that this method possesses substantial measurement reliability and individual stability, as children report low intra‐individual variation over time. Children also report a mean decrease in vagal tone from 5 to 7 years of age, consistent with increased attentional capacity. Overall, this suggests blood volume pulse estimation of vagal tone is both accurate and appropriate for naturalistic developmental research. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 56: 23–35, 2014.</p> </sec> </abstract>