Configuration files

In this tutorial you will learn how to create your custom configuration files for R-peak detection and for performing HRV analysis.

Note

In the next version of PhysioZoo the two configuration files will be merged in one unique configuration file.

Introduction

PhysioZoo enables you to work with HRV data from different mammals. Since the beating rate and its variability patterns vary across species then some parameters of the peak detectors and of the time, frequency and nonlinear HRV measures must be adjusted.

In the current version of the software these adaptations are readily available for the processing of Human, dog, rabbit and mouse electrocardiographic data. For processing data from other species or if you are using other data than ECG (e.g. electrogram, action potential) you will need to define your own configuration files. There are two types of configuration files in PhysioZoo: the peak detection configuration file and the HRV configuration file.

PhysioZoo software

Defining a peak detector configuration file

In the Peak detection module:

  1. By choosing Mammal->Custom this will prompt you with a selection window. Select the configuration file of the closest mammal to the one you want to use. This will set the default HRV configuration parameters. Follow the following steps:

  2. Modify the configuration of the peak detector you choose to use uder Configuration.

  3. Save the peak detector configuration by clicking File -> Save configuration file.

  4. To use this configuration file when you next use the PhysioZoo peak detection module: (1) File->Load custom config file or (2) Main->Mammal->Custom and choose your configuration file.

../../_images/config_qrs.png

Defining an HRV configuration file

In the HRV module: under the “Main” tab you can change the Mammal type to one of the following options: Human, Dog, Rabbit, Mouse and Custom. In built in the software are configuration files for human, dog, rabbit and mouse electrocardiographic data. By choosing thee “Custom” option under `Mammal’ you can define an HRV configuration file of your own. Follow the following steps:

  1. By choosing Mammal->Custom this will prompt you with a selection window. Select the configuration file of the closest mammal to the one you want to use. This will set the default HRV configuration parameters.

  2. Modify some of the HRV measures configuration by going to the “Options” menu (see screenshot below.) There you will find all the parameters of the HRV measures sorted with respect to their category: Time, Frequency and Nonlinear as well as the Preprocessing parameters. If, as an example, you want to change the cut-off frequency between the low frequency and high frequency bands (“LF Band” and “HF Band”) in the frequency based methods then you can do so by changing the 0.341 Hz (see screen below) value to something else more suited to your data.

  3. Go to File->Save config file and save the configuration file under the name of the mammal you are using.

  4. To use this configuration file when you next use PhysioZoo HRV module: (1) File->Load custom config file or (2) Main->Mammal->Custom and choose your configuration file.

../../_images/select_mammal_type.png ../../_images/change_config.png

Frequently asked questions

Why configuration files?

The beating rate and its variability pattern vary across species thus some parameters of the peak detectors and of the time, frequency and nonlinear HRV measures must be adjusted.