timetopeak

TimetoPeak (TTP) is a quantitative measure used in time-series analysis to describe the time required for a signal to reach its peak value from a defined starting point. It is typically expressed in units of time and may be a global measure or restricted to a defined observation window.

The starting point is usually a baseline or onset of activity, and the peak is the maximum value encountered within the specified window. In practice, TTP may refer to the first local maximum above a noise threshold or the absolute maximum, depending on the study design. Data preprocessing such as smoothing and baseline correction is commonly applied prior to peak determination.

Calculation often involves locating the peak position in the time domain; if your sampling rate is discrete, interpolation can be used to estimate sub-sample timing. Consistency in baseline definition, peak criteria, and window boundaries is essential when comparing TTP across conditions or datasets.

TTP is used across disciplines including pharmacology to describe drug absorption, physiology and neuroscience to characterize response timing, and chemical kinetics and spectroscopy for reaction progress assessment. It can aid in comparing dynamics of different stimuli, treatments, or materials.

Limitations include sensitivity to noise, sampling frequency, and the presence of multiple peaks or non-monotonic signals. It does not convey information about peak magnitude or the overall signal shape, and inappropriate baseline or peak definitions can lead to misleading results. Related concepts include time to peak, rise time, and time to maximum.