Measures of the coupling between fluctuating brain network organization and heartbeat dynamics

• DOI: 10.1162/netn_a_00369
• Publication Date: 2024-03-05T21:18:00Z
• Authors: Diego Candia-Rivera; Mario Chavez; Fabrizio De Vico ...
• Keywords: Heart beat; Dynamics

Abstract In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in studying brain–heart interactions. Methodological advancements have proposed to investigate how the brain and heart communicate, leading new insights into some neural functions. However, most frameworks look at interaction of only one region with heartbeat dynamics, overlooking that functional networks change dynamically response internal external demands. We propose a framework for assessing interplay between cortical cardiac dynamics from noninvasive electrophysiological recordings. focused on fluctuating network metrics obtained connectivity matrices EEG data. Specifically, we quantified coupling sympathetic–vagal activity clustering, efficiency, assortativity, modularity. validate our proposal using open-source datasets: involves emotion elicitation healthy individuals, another resting-state data patients Parkinson’s disease. Our results suggest connection segregation may offer valuable affective state participants, alterations physiology By considering multiple properties, this more comprehensive understanding findings hold promise development biomarkers diagnostic cognitive/motor function evaluation.