title: Role of the autonomic nervous system in generating non-linear dynamics in short-term heart period variability.
abstract: We evaluated the role played by the autonomic nervous system in producing non-linear dynamics in short heart period variability (HPV) series recorded in healthy young humans. Non-linear dynamics are detected using an index of predictability based on a local non-linear predictor and a surrogate data approach. Different types of surrogates are utilized: (i) phase-randomized Fourier-transform based (FT) data; (ii) amplitude-adjusted FT (AAFT) data; and (iii) iteratively refined AAFT (IAAFT) data of two types (IAAFT-1 and IAAFT-2). The approach was applied to experimental protocols activating or blocking the sympathetic or parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system or periodically perturbing cardiovascular control via paced respiration at different breathing rates. We found that short-term HPV was mostly linear at rest. Experimental protocols activating the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous system did not produce non-linear dynamics. In contrast, paced respiration, especially at slow breathing rates, elicited significantly non-linear dynamics. Therefore, in short-term HPV ( approximately 300 beats) the use of non-linear models is not supported by the data, except under conditions whereby the subject is constrained to a slow respiratory rate.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Precliniche, LITA di Vialba, Laboratorio di Modellistica di Sistemi Complessi, Universitá degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy. alberto.porta@unimi.it
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Porta
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guzzetti
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Borroni
authors.forename: Raffaello
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Furlan
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Montano
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malliani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D009991:Oscillometry / Q000379:methods