Arnold tongues in human cardiorespiratory systems

Chaos. 2004 Mar;14(1):1-6. doi: 10.1063/1.1620990.

Abstract

Arnold tongues are phase-locking regions in parameter space, originally studied in circle-map models of cardiac arrhythmias. They show where a periodic system responds by synchronizing to an external stimulus. Clinical studies of resting or anesthetized patients exhibit synchronization between heart-beats and respiration. Here we show that these results are successfully modeled by a circle-map, neatly combining the phenomena of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA, where inspiration modulates heart-rate) and cardioventilatory coupling (CVC, where the heart is a pacemaker for respiration). Examination of the Arnold tongues reveals that while RSA can cause synchronization, the strongest mechanism for synchronization is CVC, so that the heart is acting as a pacemaker for respiration.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arrhythmia, Sinus / physiopathology*
  • Biological Clocks*
  • Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Heart Rate*
  • Homeostasis*
  • Humans
  • Models, Cardiovascular*
  • Respiratory Mechanics
  • Respiratory Physiological Phenomena*
  • Vagus Nerve / physiopathology