在本論文中，我們利用心電圖(ECG)來分析心率變異度 (Heart Rate variability) 在針灸心包經內關穴時的變化，以便研究心率變異度之變化模式。
在心率變異度的時域(Time Domain)分析方法中，我們發現不管在平均參數(mean)及標準差參數(SDNN, Standard Deviation Normal to Normal Interval)中，它們的變化都是極小且不規律；而在心率變異度的頻域(Frequency Domain)分析方法中，則發現了在低頻的部份有明顯且規則的變化。針刺前的頻率明顯比較集中在極低頻(VLF)的部份，針刺中，極低頻的強度下降且低頻強度上升。最後，針刺後會集中在低頻(LF)的頻帶部份，高頻頻帶則是有針刺後頻率集中靠近到0.15Hz左右的趨勢變化。這顯然與自主神經系統有密切的關係。
在這兩個分析方法中，我們認為時域的方法比較不適合用在本論文中的實驗分析，而頻域的方法則方便我們找出心率變異度在針灸內關穴前、後的變化情況。
將來希望了解到底為交感神經或副交感神經系統的影響，並能夠藉由這種方式來找出其它穴道對人體的影響。

In this thesis, we introduced the HRV method and used it to analyze the electrocardiogram (ECG) data during acupuncture at the point of Neiguan (P6 of the Pericardial Meridian). We found a distinct relationship between the HRV and acupuncture in our experiments.
In our findings, the time domain method was not useful in our experiments, but the frequency domain method had a distinct result. Most power was centered on the very low frequency (VLF) component during background. When acupunctured at the Neiguan point, the power of the VLF decreased and the power of the low frequency (LF) increased. After pulling out the needle from the Neiguan point, the frequency focused around the LF band. Finally, the power of the high frequency (HF) component would center around 0.15 Hz.
This method can be used to investigate autonomic nervous effects of acupuncture points on human body.

[1] Cooper JK. “Electrocardiography 100 years ago. Origins, pioneers, and contributors.” N Engl J Med 1986; 315:461-4.
[2] Waller AD. “A demonstration on man of electromotive changes accompanying the heart's beat.” J. Physiol. (Lond.) 1887; 8: 229-34.
[3] Waller AD. “On the electromotive changes connected with the beat of the mammalian heart, and on the human heart in particular.” Phil. Trans. R. Soc. (Lond.) 1889; 180: 169-94.
[4] Ader C. “Sur un nouvel appareil enregistreur pour cables sousmarins.” Compt. rend. Acad. Sci. (Paris) 1897; 124: 1440-2.
[5] Einthoven W. “Weiteres über das Elektrokardiogram.” Pflüger Arch. ges. Physiol. 1908; 122: 517-48.
[6] Einthoven W, Fahr G, and de Waart A. “Über die Richtung und die Manifeste Grösse der Potentialschwankungen im mennschlichen Herzen und über den Einfluss der Herzlage auf die form des Elektrokardiogramms.” Pflüger Arch. ges. Physiol. 1913; 150: 275-315.
[7] Einthoven W, Fahr G, and de Waart A. “On the direction and manifest size of the variations of potential in the human heart and on the influence of the position of the heart on the form of the electrocardiogram.” Am. Heart J. 1950; 40:(2) 163-211.
[8] Malmivuo JA. “On the detection of the magnetic heart vector - An application of the reciprocity theorem.” Helsinki Univ. Tech., Acta Polytechn. Scand., El. Eng. Series. 1976; Vol. 39., pp. 112. (Dr. Tech. thesis)
[9] Malmivuo JA, Wikswo JP, Barry WH, Harrison DC, and Fairbank WM. “Consistent system of rectangular and spherical coordinates for electrocardiography and magnetocardiography.” Med. & Biol. Eng. & Comput. 1977; 15:(4) 413-5.
[10] Geselowitz DB. “Dipole theory in electrocardiography.” Am. J. Cardiol. 1964; 14: (9) 301-6.
[11] Goldberger E. “The aVL, aVR, and aVF leads; A simplification of standard lead electrocardiography.” Am. Heart J. 1942; 24: 378- 96.
[12] Goldberger E. “A simple indifferent electrocardiographic electrode of zero potential and a technique of obtaining augmented, unipolar extremity leads.” Am. Heart J. 1942; 23: 483-92.
[13] American Heart Association. “Recommendations for standardization of leads and of specifications for instruments in electrocardiography and vectorcardiography.” Circulation 1967; 35: 583- 7.
[14] Task Force of the European Society of Cardiology and the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology. “Heart Rate Variability: Standards of Measurements, Physiological Interpretation, and Clinical Use.” Circulation 1996; 93:1043-1065.
[15] Malik M, Xia R, Odemuyiwa O, Staunton A, Poloniecki J, and Camm AJ. “Influence of the recognition artefact in the automatic analysis of long-term electrocardiograms on time-domain measurement of heart rate variability.” Med Biol Eng Comput. 1993; 31:539-544.
[16] Scherer P, Ohler JP, Hirche H, and Höpp H-W. “Definition of a new beat-to-beat parameter of heart rate variability.” PACE Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 1993; 16:939. Abstract.
[17] Friesen GM, Jannett TC, Jadalloh MA, Yates SL, Quint SR, and Nogle HT. “A comparison of the noise sensitivity of nine QRS detection algorithms.” IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 1990; 37:85- 98
[18] Bigger JT, Fleiss JL, Steinman RC, Rolnitzky LM, Kleiger RE, and Rottman JN. “Frequency domain measures of heart period variability and mortality after myocardial infarction.” Circulation. 1992; 85:164-171.
[19] Kleiger RE, Miller JP, Bigger JT, Moss AJ, and the Multicenter Post-Infarction Research Group. “Decreased heart rate variability and its association with increased mortality after acute myocardial infarction.” Am J Cardiol. 1987; 59:256-262.
[20] Malik M, Farrell T, Cripps T, and Camm AJ. “Heart rate variability in relation to prognosis after myocardial infarction: selection of optimal processing techniques.” Eur Heart J. 1989; 10:1060-1074
[21] Malliani A, Pagani M, Lombardi F, and Cerutti S. “Cardiovascular neural regulation explored in the frequency domain.” Circulation. 1991; 84:1482-1492.
[22] Pagani M, Lombardi F, Guzzetti S, Rimoldi O, Furlan R, Pizzinelli P, Sandrone G, Malfatto G, Dell'Orto S, Piccaluga E, Turiel M, Baselli G, Cerutti S, and Malliani “A. Power spectral analysis of heart rate and arterial pressure variabilities as a marker of sympathovagal interaction in man and conscious dog.” Circ Res. 1986; 59:178-193.
[23] Akselrod S, Gordon D, Ubel FA, Shannon DC, Barger AC, and Cohen RJ. “Power spectrum analysis of heart rate fluctuation: a quantitative probe of beat to beat cardiovascular control.” Science. 1981; 213:220-222.
[24] Hirsh JA and Bishop B. “Respiratory sinus arrhythmia in humans: how breathing pattern modulates heart rate.” Am J Physiol. 1981; 241:H620-H629.
[25] Sayers BM. “Analysis of heart rate variability.” Ergonomics. 1973; 16:17-32.
[26] Guyton AC and Hall JE. “Textbook of Medical Physiology.” 9th edition, Philadelphia, 1995
[27] Malmivuo JA, and Plonsey R, “Bioelectromagnetism: Principles and Applications of Bioelectric and Biomagnetic Fields.” Oxford University Press, USA, 1995
[28] Zhang MG, Wei MG and Li J. “Effect of acupuncture at point Neiguan (PC 6) on variability of heart rate.” Chinese Acupuncture & Maxibustion, Mar. 2003, Vol. 23 No.3; 03:169-02