Scaling graphs of heart rate time series in athletes demonstrating the VLF, LF and HF regions

Scaling analysis of heart rate time series has emerged as a useful tool for the assessment of autonomic cardiac control. We investigate the heart rate time series of ten athletes (five males and five females), by applying detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA). High resolution ECGs are recorded under standardized resting conditions over 30 min and subsequently heart rate time series are extracted and artifacts filtered. We find three distinct regions of scale invariance, which correspond to the well-known VLF, LF and HF bands in the power spectra of heart rate variability. The scaling exponents α are αHF: 1.15 [0.96–1.22], αLF: 0.68 [0.57–0.84], αVLF: 0.83[0.82–0.99], p < 10−5). In conclusion, DFA scaling exponents of heart rate time series should be fitted to the VLF, LF and HF ranges, respectively.