title: Poincaré plot interpretation using a physiological model of HRV based on a network of oscillators.
abstract: In this paper, we develop a physiological oscillator model of which the output mimics the shape of the R-R interval Poincaré plot. To validate the model, simulations of various nervous conditions are compared with heart rate variability (HRV) data obtained from subjects under each prescribed condition. For a variety of sympathovagal balances, our model generates Poincaré plots that undergo alterations strongly resembling those of actual R-R intervals. By exploiting the oscillator basis of our model, we detail the way that low- and high-frequency modulation of the sinus node translates into R-R interval Poincaré plot shape by way of simulations and analytic results. With the use of our model, we establish that the length and width of a Poincaré plot are a weighted combination of low- and high-frequency power. This provides a theoretical link between frequency-domain spectral analysis techniques and time-domain Poincaré plot analysis. We ascertain the degree to which these principles apply to real R-R intervals by testing the mathematical relationships on a set of data and establish that the principles are clearly evident in actual HRV records.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Marimuthu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palaniswami
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kamen
mesh_terms: D001683:Biological Clocks; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D010507:Periodicity; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology