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Emotion effects on spatiotemporal brain-heart interactions with convergent cross mapping
Xiaqi Zeng1, Xianbin Zhang1, Hanrui Dong1
1School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, People's Republic of China.
Physiological Measurement
|June 11, 2026
Summary
This study reveals that brain-heart interactions during emotion processing are directionally asymmetric, with stronger cortical-to-cardiac signaling. Cardiac dynamics play an active role in emotion regulation and brain coordination.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cardiology
- Affective Science
Background:
- Brain-heart interactions are crucial for affective processing.
- Traditional methods like EEG and HRV lack heartbeat-resolved dynamics.
- Bidirectional cortical and cardiac activity requires advanced analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate heartbeat-resolved brain-heart interactions during affective states.
- To explore the directionality and spatial organization of these interactions.
- To advance embodied models of affect.
Main Methods:
- Convergent Cross Mapping (CCM) applied to 32-channel EEG and ECG signals.
- Modeling heartbeat-evoked potentials (HEPs) and cardiac waveforms as dynamical systems.
- Utilizing virtual reality (VR) videos to elicit positive and negative affect.
Main Results:
- Pronounced directional asymmetry observed: descending (cortical-to-cardiac) coupling was stronger and more sustained than ascending.
- Positive and negative emotions modulated bidirectional coupling, enhancing descending interactions.
- Modulation was predominantly left-lateralized, concentrated in frontal and central electrodes.
Conclusions:
- Brain-heart interactions in emotion are directionally asymmetric and hemispherically organized.
- Cardiac dynamics are an integral component of emotion-related brain coordination.
- Findings support embodied models of affect, highlighting active cardiac involvement.
