Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Autonomic Function Following Concussion in Youth Athletes: An Exploration of Heart Rate Variability Using 24-hour Recording Methodology
Published on: September 21, 2018
Dysautonomia and heart rate variability following severe traumatic brain injury
Ian J Baguley1, Roxana E Heriseanu, Kim L Felmingham
1Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia. ianb@biru.wsahs.nsw.gov
Primary Objective:
To investigate disconnection theories postulated as the cause of dysautonomia following severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) through analysis of heart rate variability (HRV).
Methods And Procedures:
Data were collected on age-matched subjects with and without dysautonomia (eight subjects in each group) and 16 non-injured controls. Data included injury details, continuous electrocardiograph recordings and rehabilitation outcome.
Main Outcomes And Results:
The TBI group revealed significant differences in HRV parameters both compared to controls and between dysautonomic and non-dysautonomic subjects. Additionally, HRV parameters for dysautonomic subjects showed evidence of an uncoupling of the normal relationship between heart rate and sympathetic/parasympathetic balance. HRV changes persisted for the dysautonomia group for a mean of 14 months post-injury.
Conclusions:
Dysautonomic subjects revealed prolonged uncoupling of heart rate and HRV parameters compared to non-dysautonomic subjects and controls. These findings represent direct pathophysiological evidence supporting the disconnection theory postulated to produce dysautonomia following TBI.
More Related Videos
09:22In Vivo Telemetry to Record Long-Term Cardiovascular Parameters, Temperature, and Activity in Spinal Cord Injury Rat Models
Published on: January 2, 2026
08:12Calculating Heart Rate Variability from ECG Data from Youth with Cerebral Palsy During Active Video Game Sessions
Published on: June 5, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Traumatic Brain Injury l: Introduction
Disturbances in Heart Rhythm
Arrhythmias are categorized by their speed, rhythm, and origin. A slow heart...
Secondary Spinal Cord Injury llI: Pathophysiology