Method and system for evaluating arterial pressure waves, vascular properties, as well as for diagnostic, physiological and pharmacological testing using various combinations of the following data acquisition and processing steps (some of the steps are optional): 1. Perturbing arterial pressure from its steady state. 2. Measuring the dynamics of at least one parameter related to the passage of arterial pressure waves along blood vessels. 3. Characterizing the magnitude and functional relation of changes in parameters described above in relation to changes in blood pressure during its displacement from and/or return to the steady state. 4. Classifying (comparing) the individual functional relation described above with a databank of parameters/functional relations for different states of vasomotor activity.