'nparACT' package for R: A free software tool for the non-parametric analysis of actigraphy data.
For many studies, participants' sleep-wake patterns are monitored and recorded prior to, during and following an experimental or clinical intervention using actigraphy, i.e. the recording of data generated by movements. Often, these data are merely inspected visually without computation of descriptive parameters, in part due to the lack of user-friendly software. To address this deficit, we developed a package for R Core Team [6], that allows computing several non-parametric measures from actigraphy data. Specifically, it computes the interdaily stability (IS), intradaily variability (IV) and relative amplitude (RA) of activity and gives the start times and average activity values of M10 (i.e. the ten hours with maximal activity) and L5 (i.e. the five hours with least activity). Two functions compute these 'classical' parameters and handle either single or multiple files. Two other functions additionally allow computing an L-value (i.e. the least activity value) for a user-defined time span termed 'Lflex' value. A plotting option is included in all functions. The package can be downloaded from the Comprehensive R Archives Network (CRAN). •The package 'nparACT' for R serves the non-parametric analysis of actigraphy data.•Computed parameters include interdaily stability (IS), intradaily variability (IV) and relative amplitude (RA) as well as start times and average activity during the 10 h with maximal and the 5 h with minimal activity (i.e. M10 and L5).
Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience Salzburg (CCNS), University of Salzburg, Hellbrunner Strasse 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; Laboratory for Sleep, Cognition and Consciousness Research, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunner Strasse 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.
Christine
C
Blume
Surrey Sleep Research Centre, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Egerton Road, Guildford GU2 7XP, United Kingdom.
Nayantara
N
Santhi
Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience Salzburg (CCNS), University of Salzburg, Hellbrunner Strasse 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; Laboratory for Sleep, Cognition and Consciousness Research, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunner Strasse 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.
Manuel
M
Schabus
Actigraphy; Amplitude; Circadian rhythm; Internal clock; R; Sleep; Zeitgeber