Changes in Pulse Transit Time during Psychological Stress Test

Abstract

Preliminary study of psychological stress on physiological parameters has been reported. Six healthy college students (male=3, female=3) participated in the modified Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Their Electrocardiogram (ECG), Photoplethysmogram (PPG) were monitored in 5-stage experiment. Two Pulse Transit Time (PTT) were generated within each cardiac cycle from the period of R-wave presented in ECG to (1) the peak (systolic pressure) in PPG; 'PTT+' and (2) the valley (diastolic pressure) in PPG; 'PTT-'. The mean and standard deviation of these two PTTs were reported across the stages. More data will be recruited for statistical comparison in the future.