Abstract - In this work, we have applied two recent methods; the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) and the Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) combined with the Hilbert transform, to the heart rate variability (HRV) considered as non-stationary and non linear signal, in order to study the autonomous nervous system (ANS) behaviour. The latter can be characterised by the power spectral density in the low frequency (LF) to that in the high frequency (HF) bands ratio. The RR (beat to beat) intervals data were taken from the HRV signals of young and old men watching a fantasy film. The sympatho-vagal balance ratio (LF/HF) estimation results obtained in our case using these two methods indicate that the parasympathetic activities are, generally, more dominant in the case of the young men, whereas the ANS sympathetic behaviour is clearly dominant for the old men. Copyright © 2009 Praise Worthy Prize S.r.l. - All rights reserved

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