A feedback loop study of brain-heart interaction based on HEP and HRV

Abstract

Although growing evidences suggest heartbeat evoked potential (HEP) as a biomarker of interoception, little is known about how HEP is related to cardiovascular function. In the article, mental arithmetic and meditation tasks that respectively activate sympathetic and parasympathetic activities were designed, and electroencephalogram and cardiovascular parameters were recorded in healthy young males. Our findings revealed a decrease in HEP during mental arithmetic and an increase during meditation. A correlation between HEP and blood pressure was also observed, indicating that baroreceptor stretch may contribute to HEP generation. Furthermore, HEP showed a positive correlation with parasympathetic activity and a negative correlation with sympathetic activity. Collectively, these results suggest the presence of a potential negative feedback loop between the brain and heart, mediated by HEP.