Non-Invasive Monitoring of the Condition of Horses Stimulated by Electro-Acupuncture Using a Dynamic Air-Pressure Sensor System

摘要

Dynamic air pressure sensors were placed on the body surface of horses to non-invasively monitor the total activity of the body and to detect signals from the caudal artery. The former reflected the respiration rate, the latter the pulse rate. When stimulating subject horses by electro-acupuncture (EA), the pulse rate was not significantly changed, whereas the total activity and the body movement were decreased. This indicated that EA could induce relaxation mediated by parasympathetic nerves in horses. In addition, it was suggested that the mentality of horses could be monitored using this dynamic air pressure sensor system.