Simultaneous noninvasive recording of electrocardiogram and skin sympathetic nerve activity (neuECG)

Takashi Kusayama, Johnson Wong, Xiao Liu, Wenbo He, Anisiia Doytchinova, Eric A. Robinson, David E. Adams, Lan S. Chen, Shien Fong Lin, Katherine Davoren, Ronald G. Victor, Cheng Cai, Ming Yan Dai, Ying Tian, Pei Zhang, Dereen Ernst, Richard H. Rho, Minglong Chen, Yong Mei Cha, David R. WalegaThomas H. Everett, Peng Sheng Chen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

neuECG, the simultaneous noninvasive recording of ECG and skin sympathetic nerve activity (SKNA), directly records sympathetic nerve activity over a long period of time. It can be used to measure sympathetic tone in healthy subjects and in subjects with non-cardiovascular diseases. The electrical activity that can be measured on the surface of the skin originates from the heart, the muscle or nerve structures. Because the frequency content of nerve activity falls in a higher frequency range than that of the ECG and myopotential, it is possible to use high-pass or band-pass filtering to specifically isolate the SKNA. neuECG is voltage calibrated and does not require invasive procedures to impale electrodes in nerves and thus has advantages over microneurography. Here, we present a protocol that takes <10 min to set up. The neuECG can be continuously recorded over a 24-h period or longer. We also describe methods to efficiently analyze neuECG from humans using commercially available hardware and software to facilitate adoption of this technology in clinical research.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1853-1877
Number of pages25
JournalNature Protocols
Volume15
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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