Anxiety, Worry and Fear: Quantifying the Mind Using EKG Time Series Analysis

Abstract

We analyse the heartbeat interval time series in this chapter. Our time series analysis concepts and techniques have been reported previously, for example, in the Intech Book chapter. Here, we would like to introduce how it works by presenting typical examples. The techniques can distinguish between healthy, sick and stressful hearts. All data were obtained by us from natural heartbeat data. Therefore, we have notes behind data, especially about behavioural psychological observations. Results of analysis are the following: healthy hearts exhibit a healthy scaling exponent (SI), which is near 1.0, stressful hearts exhibit a lower SI, such as 0.7, dying heart's SI approaches to 0.5, and so forth.

A Heartbeat-Interval Time Series Analysis, Modified Detrended Fluctuation Analysis, mDFA, Distinguishes between Stressed- and Happy-Heartbeats: From Invertebrate Animals to Humans

“…Here, the brain does not concentrate on meal, and the scaling exponent was not noticeably altered. The previous report also supports this interpretation of "having meal mDFA" (see Figure 14 of previous publication [19]). If individuals were interested in not so meal but conversation, we found that the scaling exponent did not decrease significantly.…”

“…In conclusion, the best window size, that is, the domain 30 < l < 270, ensures that mDFA gives a reliable and satisfactory useful scaling index, as shown in the results section below. Our mind might be quantified by the scaling index [18,19]. We can peer into the mind through a window.…”

mDFA Detects Abnormality: From Heartbeat to Material Vibration

“…The mDFA program was made by a former master student Tanaka [7] mDFA results are reproducible and consistent. We found stratification phenomena that provide evidence for the quantitative measure SI links to various physiological phenomena in a one-to-one manner [1,7,[10][11][12]. Arrhythmic heartbeat decreases SI [11].…”

“…Alternans (harbinger of death rhythm) decreases SI [7]. Anxiety, fear, and worry decrease SI [10]. University president, vice president, president-secretary, and dean professor all have a low SI [1] but teaching-only professors have a healthy SI (SI = ~1.0) [1].…”

“…State space representation of cardiac action potentials shows a normal action potential shape in (A), gradually changing to distorted pattern (B, E, F), and finally becomes erratic and unstable at the end (Fz). Modified from Yazawa[10], Chapter 2.…”