[Brain oscillations and individual variability of cardiac defense in human]

Cardiac defense response (CDR) is a specific dynamic pattern of the short- and long-latency cardiovascular reactivity (usually based on HR and/or arterial BP variables) in response an intense aversive unexpected stimulus. The CDR reflects activity of the defensive motivational system along with behavioral coping programs. The aim of the study was to estimate the putative contribution of brain oscillations into the central mechanisms of the CDR individual variability. EEG and cardiovascular concomitants of the CDR were estimated using the event-related synchroniza- tion/desynchronization (ERD/ERS) in different frequency bands as well as Finapres dependent variables obtained on the "beat-by-beat" basis. The first-ever findings evidenced significant cor- relations of the theta-2 (6-8 Hz) ERD/ERS with the sort-latency, whereas alpha-2 (10-12 Hz) ERD/ERS with the long-latency CDR variability. The hyperreactive long-latency systolic blood pressure CDR component was accompanied by the phase of deficient alpha-2 synchronization. It is suggested that upper theta oscillations are involved into central mechanisms scaling magnitude, whereas high frequency alpha oscillations may be responsible for the top-down inhibitory control of the short-and long-latency ABP stress-reactivity in the CDR.