Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation on the Sinoatrial Node Function

It was hypothesized that: 1) TES has effects indirectly via peripheral afferents or directly on the SAN, and 2) TES causes a change in the R-R interval (HRV). The aim of this study was to test these hypotheses.

This research protocol will have three phases: first, the effect of a single electrical pulse on heart rate variability (HRV) will be examined in Experiment I. The effects of conventional TENS and acupuncture-like TENS on HRV will be also investigated in Experiment II. Finally, the effect of time and rest on the HRV will be tested in Experiment III. Subjects will be in a sitting position with 90-degree flexion at the elbow and supination of the hand during electrical stimulation. A pair of square (4 x 4 cm), self-adhesive, pre-gelled skin electrodes will be used for stimulation. The electrodes will be placed over the flexor aspect of the right forearm. Three-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) recording will be obtained to determine the change of HRV during rest and electrical stimulation sessions. The participant's ECG data will be continuously captured by noninvasive sensors [self-adhesive pre-gelled Ag/AgCl surface electromyography (sEMG) electrodes, Redline® Istanbul, Türkiye] transmitted through a data acquisition system.

The main outcome variable is the heart rhythm. In this context, electrical stimulus-related QRS wave and RR interval change (heart rate variability) will be examined. The possible direct effect of an electrical stimulus on the appearance of the QRS wave will be investigated in the time domain using the Peristimulus time histogram and the Waveform average technique. ECG data will be analyzed using a software package (Cambridge Electronic Designs, Cambridge, UK).