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Updated: Jan 10, 2026

Quantifying Infra-slow Dynamics of Spectral Power and Heart Rate in Sleeping Mice
Published on: August 2, 2017
Cardiovascular Activity Predominantly Modulates Brain Dynamics in Non-REM Sleep Transitions
Vincenzo Catrambone1, Ugo Faraguna2,3, Gaetano Valenza1
1Neurocardiovascular Intelligence Laboratory & Department of Information Engineering & Bioengineering and Robotics Research Center, E. Piaggio, School of Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
None:
This study explores the brain-heart axis and its directional control dynamics across various sleep stages using electroencephalography and electrocardiogram data from publicly available whole-night recordings of 50 healthy individuals. Utilizing a validated functional brain-heart interplay (BHI) mathematical model, we identified a decrease in central control over peripheral neural activity regulating heartbeat dynamics during non-REM sleep. In contrast, an increase in sympathovagal activity influencing cortical function was observed during deep sleep, particularly in Non-REM3, compared to light sleep and REM phases. These results indicate a dynamic shift in the functional balance of the brain-heart axis and related BHI throughout sleep stages, characterized by predominant central control during wakefulness and enhanced bodily neuro-cardiac-autonomic regulation during deep sleep.
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