Short-term heart rate variability measures in students during examinations.

Abstract

The decreased mean RR interval indicates an overall increase in heart rate or cardiac sympatho-excitation during examinations. This is associated with a decrease in total heart rate variability at the time of mental stress. None of the parameters indicative of the ratio of the extent of modulation of cardiac sympathetic to parasympathetic activity were different. These findings may be useful when interpreting measures of heart rate variability in patients.