The connection between heart rate variability (HRV), neurological health, and cognition: A literature review

Xianghong Arakaki; Rebecca J. Arechavala; Elizabeth H. Choy; Jayveeritz Bautista; Bishop Bliss; Cathleen Molloy; Daw-An Wu; Shinsuke Shimojo; Yang Jiang; Michael T. Kleinman; Robert A. Kloner; Robert A. Kloner

doi:10.3389/fnins.2023.1055445

Frontiers in Neuroscience (Mar 2023)

The connection between heart rate variability (HRV), neurological health, and cognition: A literature review

Xianghong Arakaki,
Rebecca J. Arechavala,
Elizabeth H. Choy,
Jayveeritz Bautista,
Bishop Bliss,
Cathleen Molloy,
Daw-An Wu,
Shinsuke Shimojo,
Yang Jiang,
Michael T. Kleinman,
Robert A. Kloner,
Robert A. Kloner

Affiliations

Xianghong Arakaki: Cognition and Brain Integration Laboratory, Department of Neurosciences, Huntington Medical Research Institutes, Pasadena, CA, United States
Rebecca J. Arechavala: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
Elizabeth H. Choy: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
Jayveeritz Bautista: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
Bishop Bliss: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
Cathleen Molloy: Cognition and Brain Integration Laboratory, Department of Neurosciences, Huntington Medical Research Institutes, Pasadena, CA, United States
Daw-An Wu: Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
Shinsuke Shimojo: Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
Yang Jiang: Department of Behavioral Science, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
Michael T. Kleinman: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
Robert A. Kloner: Cardiovascular Research, Huntington Medical Research Institutes, Pasadena, CA, United States
Robert A. Kloner: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2023.1055445
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 17

Abstract

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The heart and brain have bi-directional influences on each other, including autonomic regulation and hemodynamic connections. Heart rate variability (HRV) measures variation in beat-to-beat intervals. New findings about disorganized sinus rhythm (erratic rhythm, quantified as heart rate fragmentation, HRF) are discussed and suggest overestimation of autonomic activities in HRV changes, especially during aging or cardiovascular events. When excluding HRF, HRV is regulated via the central autonomic network (CAN). HRV acts as a proxy of autonomic activity and is associated with executive functions, decision-making, and emotional regulation in our health and wellbeing. Abnormal changes of HRV (e.g., decreased vagal functioning) are observed in various neurological conditions including mild cognitive impairments, dementia, mild traumatic brain injury, migraine, COVID-19, stroke, epilepsy, and psychological conditions (e.g., anxiety, stress, and schizophrenia). Efforts are needed to improve the dynamic and intriguing heart-brain interactions.

Published in Frontiers in Neuroscience

ISSN: 1662-4548 (Print); 1662-453X (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Website: http://www.frontiersin.org/neuroscience

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Abstract

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