Subtle Physical Activity poses a Challenge to the study of heart rate.
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
1998 |
Authors: |
P. Major |
Publication/Journal: |
Physiology & Behavior |
Keywords: |
heart rate, interbeat interval, macaca-mulatta, physical activity, radiotelemetry |
ISBN: |
0031-9384 |
Abstract:
In nonhuman primates, our understanding of the effect of physical activity upon heart rate, particularly activity involving
only slight, nonlocomotor movements, is poor. However, before inferring that other factors affect an animal’s heart rate,
the effect of physical activity upon heart rate must be considered. This study describes this effect in five adult female and
seven infant rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Interbeat interval (IBI), the reciprocal function of heart rate, was monitored
using radiotelemetry during six categories of physical activity. IBI varied between different activities. The largest observed
mean decrease in IBI was by 45% of that when sitting still, during locomotion by adult females. However, even subtle physical
activity, involving no movement from a sitting position, produced a large, significant reduction in IBI. The effect of activity upon
IBI was different between adults and infants. The findings indicate that measures of physical activity that consider only
locomotion are insufficiently sensitive to describe the relationship between physical activity and heart rate.