title: Linguistic analysis of the human heartbeat using frequency and rank order statistics.
abstract: Complex physiologic signals may carry unique dynamical signatures that are related to their underlying mechanisms. We present a method based on rank order statistics of symbolic sequences to investigate the profile of different types of physiologic dynamics. We apply this method to heart rate fluctuations, the output of a central physiologic control system. The method robustly discriminates patterns generated from healthy and pathologic states, as well as aging. Furthermore, we observe increased randomness in the heartbeat time series with physiologic aging and pathologic states and also uncover nonrandom patterns in the ventricular response to atrial fibrillation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Albert C-C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Shu-Shya
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hseu
authors.forename: Huey-Wen
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Yien
authors.forename: Ary L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Goldberger
authors.forename: C-K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology*