Do You Believe in Sinus Arrhythmia?

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Abstract
Some problems raised by the use of heart rate irregularity as a dependent variable in experiments are mentioned. Referring to experimental results it is argued that mental load is not an indivisible concept. In laboratory studies a binary choice task is often used in order to provide the level of mental load as an independent variable This kind of task is dependent on the capacity of the single channel function. Other types of informational load are conceivable. Special attention is given to the phenomenon of peak load. Finally, heart rate variability is accepted as an indicator of the proportional occupation of an individual's single channel capacity during rest and work. A plea is made that it is necessary to be very careful in using terms like the sinus arrhythmia and the mental load and in using heart rate variability in field applications.