HR Response (hr + response)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Dynamic characteristics of heart rate control by the autonomic nervous system in rats

EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 9 2010
Masaki Mizuno
We estimated the transfer function of autonomic heart rate (HR) control by using random binary sympathetic or vagal nerve stimulation in anaesthetized rats. The transfer function from sympathetic stimulation to HR response approximated a second-order, low-pass filter with a lag time (gain, 4.29 ± 1.55 beats min,1 Hz,1; natural frequency, 0.07 ± 0.03 Hz; damping coefficient, 1.96 ± 0.64; and lag time, 0.73 ± 0.12 s). The transfer function from vagal stimulation to HR response approximated a first-order, low-pass filter with a lag time (gain, 8.84 ± 4.51 beats min,1 Hz,1; corner frequency, 0.12 ± 0.06 Hz; and lag time, 0.12 ± 0.08 s). These results suggest that the dynamic characteristics of HR control by the autonomic nervous system in rats are similar to those of larger mammals. [source]


Sympathetic control of short-term heart rate variability and its pharmacological modulation

FUNDAMENTAL & CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 4 2007
Jean-Luc Elghozi
Abstract The static relationship between heart rate (HR) and the activity of either vagal or sympathetic nerves is roughly linear within the physiological range of HR variations. The dynamic control of HR by autonomic nerves is characterized by a fixed time delay between the onset of changes in nerve activity and the onset of changes in HR. This delay is much longer for sympathetically than for vagally mediated changes in HR. In addition, the kinetics of the HR responses shows the properties of a low-pass filter with short (vagal) and long (sympathetic) time constants. These differences might be secondary to differences in nervous conduction times, width of synaptic cleft, kinetics of receptor activation and post-receptor events. Because of the accentuated low-pass filter characteristics of the HR response to sympathetic modulation, sympathetic influences are almost restricted to the very-low-frequency component of HR variability, but the chronotropic effects of vagal stimulation usually predominate over those of sympathetic stimulation in this frequency band. Oscillations in cardiac sympathetic nerve activity are not involved in respiratory sinus arrhythmia (high-frequency component) and make a minor contribution to HR oscillations of approximately 10-s period (low-frequency component of approximately 0.1 Hz), at least in the supine position. In the latter case, HR oscillations are derived mainly from a baroreflex, vagally mediated response to blood pressure Mayer waves. Beta-blockers and centrally acting sympathoinhibitory drugs share the ability to improve the baroreflex control of HR, possibly through vagal facilitation, which might be beneficial in several cardiovascular diseases. [source]


Physiologic reactivity to startling tones in female vietnam nurse veterans with PTSD

JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS, Issue 5 2007
Margaret A. Carson
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with larger heart rate (HR), skin conductance (SC), and eyeblink responses to sudden, loud tones. The present study tested this association in female nurse veterans with PTSD related to witnessing patients' death, severe injury and/or suffering during their Vietnam service. Nurses with current, past but not current, or who never had PTSD listened to 15 consecutive 95-dB, 500-ms, 1000-Hz tones with sudden onsets, while HR, SC, and eyeblink responses were measured. Nurses with current PTSD produced significantly larger averaged HR, but not SC or eyeblink responses across tone trials. A larger HR response to loud tones is one of the most robust physiologic findings in PTSD and may reflect increased defensive responding. [source]


Non-invasive assessment of cardioregulatory autonomic functions in children with epilepsy

ACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 6 2007
H. L. El-Sayed
Objectives ,, We aimed to evaluate the interictal cardiovascular autonomic functions in pediatric patients with idiopathic epilepsy, both partial and generalized. Materials and methods ,, The study included 25 patients with idiopathic epilepsy and 50 control subjects. Patients underwent five standardized clinical cardiovascular reflex autonomic tests [resting heart rate (HR), HR response to deep breathing and to Valsalva maneuver, the 30:15 ratio of HR response to standing, and blood pressure response to standing], as well as a 12 lead surface electrocardiogram. Heart rate variability (HRV) was tested via 24-h Holter monitoring and the time domain parameters (SDNN, PNN50, rMSDD) were assessed. Excretion of vanillyl mandelic acid and metanephrine was measured in 24-h urine collection. Results ,, Clinical reflex autonomic tests showed mild dysfunction in 8%, moderate dysfunction in 44% and severe dysfunction in 4% of patients. The HRV parameter, SDNN, was reduced in all age groups, while rMSDD and PNN50 were reduced only in the older age group. Metanephrine levels were significantly reduced in the patients group. Patients with uncontrolled epilepsy had a significantly higher frequency of autonomic dysfunction as assessed by clinical scoring. Conclusion ,, Cardiac autonomic dysfunction is not uncommon in pediatric patients with epilepsy. Altered cardiovascular regulation seems to be related to the epilepsy itself rather than to the characteristics of the disorder. [source]


Music and emotion: Electrophysiological correlates of the processing of pleasant and unpleasant music

PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 2 2007
Daniela Sammler
Abstract Human emotion and its electrophysiological correlates are still poorly understood. The present study examined whether the valence of perceived emotions would differentially influence EEG power spectra and heart rate (HR). Pleasant and unpleasant emotions were induced by consonant and dissonant music. Unpleasant (compared to pleasant) music evoked a significant decrease of HR, replicating the pattern of HR responses previously described for the processing of emotional pictures, sounds, and films. In the EEG, pleasant (contrasted to unpleasant) music was associated with an increase of frontal midline (Fm) theta power. This effect is taken to reflect emotional processing in close interaction with attentional functions. These findings show that Fm theta is modulated by emotion more strongly than previously believed. [source]