This volume investigates the physiological and technical parameters of heart-rate variability as a diagnostic tool in clinical and research settings. The editors, R.I. Kitney and O. Rompelman, compile a series of technical papers derived from a 1977 Biological Engineering Society meeting to establish a foundational framework for analyzing cardiac rhythm fluctuations. The text synthesizes early signal processing methodologies with biological observations to define how heart-rate variability serves as an indicator of autonomic nervous system function.

Experts recognize this text as a foundational historical document for the field of biomedical signal processing. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a specialized reference for researchers interested in the evolution of cardiac monitoring technology.