ARTiiFACT: a tool for heart rate artifact processing and heart rate variability analysis

• Published in: Behavior research methods Vol. 43; no. 4; pp. 1161 - 1170
• Main Authors: Kaufmann, Tobias, Sütterlin, Stefan, Schulz, Stefan M., Vögele, Claus
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer-Verlag 01.12.2011; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Algorithms; Automation; Batch processing; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Cognitive Psychology; Computer programs; Data processing; EKG; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory - methods; Heart Rate; Humans; Indexing in process; Internet; Psychology; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; Software; Statistical analysis; Studies; Analysis software; ECG artifact processing; Heart rate variability; Electrocardiogram
• ISSN: 1554-3528; 1554-351X; 1554-3528
• DOI: 10.3758/s13428-011-0107-7

The importance of appropriate handling of artifacts in interbeat interval (IBI) data must not be underestimated. Even a single artifact may cause unreliable heart rate variability (HRV) results. Thus, a robust artifact detection algorithm and the option for manual intervention by the researcher form key components for confident HRV analysis. Here, we present ARTiiFACT, a software tool for processing electrocardiogram and IBI data. Both automated and manual artifact detection and correction are available in a graphical user interface. In addition, ARTiiFACT includes time- and frequency-based HRV analyses and descriptive statistics, thus offering the basic tools for HRV analysis. Notably, all program steps can be executed separately and allow for data export, thus offering high flexibility and interoperability with a whole range of applications.