Multiple theoretical frameworks posit that interactions between the autonomic nervous system and higher-order neural networks are crucial for cognitive regulation. However, few studies have directly examined whether autonomic physiology influences brain activity during cognitive tasks, and even fewer of those studies have examined both autonomic branches when doing so. Measures of selective attention derived from event-related brain potentials (ERPs) are particularly well-suited for addressing this question, given that ERP selective attention tasks are designed to control for the influences of psychomotor processes and arousal and are predictive of higher-order cognitive function in children and adults. Such research is particularly promising for understanding how early adversity impacts neurocognitive development in children, given that stress experienced early in life impacts both autonomic function and selective attention. Here, a broad literature review is presented, integrating findings across studies of autonomic physiology, cognition, and brain activity in children and adults (Chapter 1). Then, two experiments are described where cardiac measures of parasympathetic and sympathetic activity were recorded concurrently with ERPs during an auditory selective task in a sample of adults (Chapter 2) and in a sample of preschool-aged children (Chapter 3). Results from both experiments demonstrate a key role for the sympathetic nervous system in selective attention for adults and children, such that greater sympathetic activity is associated with larger effects of selective attention on ERPs. These findings are then reviewed with suggestions for how existing models of neurovisceral integration might be updated to better emphasize the role of sympathetic nervous system activity in neurocognitive processes, emphasizing measures of threat-related and reward-related arousal, as represented by galvanic skin response and pre-ejection period, respectively (Chapter 4). Future directions are also discussed, including recommendations for future studies of neurovisceral integration to examine associations between physiology, behavior, and brain activity at the single-trial level, to incorporate participants from more diverse backgrounds of life experience, and to examine the plasticity of autonomic mechanisms implicated in neurocognitive function.

Objetivos/Hipótese: A Piridostigmina bloqueia a acetilcolinesterase, promove estimulação colinérgica e aumenta a variabilidade da freqüência cardíaca (VFC) em indivíduos saudáveis e com insuficiência cardíaca. Os efeitos sobre a modulação autonômica no diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2) são desconhecidos. Nós testamos a hipótese de que a administração de piridostigmina aumenta a VFC em pacientes com DM2 e neuropatia autonômica cardiovascular (NAC). Métodos: Estudamos 34 pacientes com DM2 e NAC com idade entre 30 e 70 anos. Dezessete receberam 30 mg de piridostigmina via oral, de 8/8h por 24h (PI) e 17 receberam placebo (PL). A VFC foi avaliada pela média (RRMed) e desvio padrão dos intervalos RR (SDNN), pela raiz quadrada da média das diferenças sucessivas entre intervalos RR (RMSSD) e pelos índices do Mapa de Retorno Tridimensional P1, P2, P3 e MN. Resultados: Não houve diferenças significativas entre os grupos PI e PL quanto às características clínicas basais e à VFC sob efeito de piridostigmina e PL (RRMed - 748 ± 99 vs 733 ± 111ms; SDNN - 107 ± 26 vs 108 ± 36ms; RRMSD - 20,7 ± 12,7 vs 20,3 ± 10ms; P1 - 63 ± 11 vs 69 ± 14; P2 - 66 ±13 vs 63 ± 15; P3 - 86 ± 34 vs 80 ± 24 e MN - 392 ± 241 vs 369 ± 185). Conclusão: A piridostigmina não modifica a VFC em pacientes com DM2 e NAC. / Aims/Hypothesis: Pyridostigmine blocks acetylcholinesterase, promotes cholinergic stimulation and increases heart rate variability (HRV) in healthy individuals and with cardiac heart failure. The effects on the autonomic modulation in diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) are unknown. We have tested the hypothesis that the administration of pyridostigmine increases HRV in DM2 and CAN patients (CAN). Methods: We have studied 34 DM2 and CAN patients aged between 30 and 70 years old. Seventeen received 30mg of pyridostigmine via oral administration, every 8 hours during 24 hours (PY) and 17 received placebo (PL). HRV was assessed by the mean of all normal R-R intervals RR (mean RR) and the standard deviation of all normal R-R intervals (SDNN), by the root-mean-square of successive differences (RMSSD) and by the three-dimensional return map indices P1, P2, P3 and MN. Results: There were no significant differences between the PY and PL groups as to the baseline clinical characteristics and to HRV under the effect of pyridostigmine and PL (mean RR - 748 ± 99 vs 733 ± 111ms; SDNN - 107 ± 26 vs 108 ± 36ms; RRMSD - 20,7 ± 12,7 vs 20,3 ± 10ms; P1 - 63 ± 11 vs 69 ± 14; P2 - 66 ±13 vs 63 ± 15; P3 - 86 ± 34 vs 80 ± 24 e MN - 392 ± 241 vs 369 ± 185). Conclusion: Pyridostigmine does not modify HRV in DM2 and CAN patients.

The connection between the heart and the brain was coined 150 years ago by Claude Bernard and has since then been an interesting topic of research. Scientists have for many years searched for biomarkers of stress and health to map the current status of the organism. Heart rate variability (HRV) has been presented as an emerging objective and promising marker to achieve just this. HRV refers to the beat-to-beat variations in heart rate (HR) and is thought to be a useful signal in understanding and providing valuable information of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). HRV has also been proposed as a marker of stress and health by sharing neural correlates and functions with several executive functions. This thesis identified several regions, including the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and the amygdala, in which significant associations across several studies were found between threat and safety perception, emotional regulation and HRV. This suggest that HRV may function as an index of the brain mechanism and structures that guide and govern adaptive functions and thus, provide researchers with valuable information regarding the stress and health of an organism. Two major theoretical frameworks, which articulate and explain the role of HRV as an indicator of individuals ability to adapt to environmental changes and cope under stress is presented. HRV can also be used in practice in several ways and a growing and promising field of application is HRV biofeedback.

Master of Science / Department of Human Nutrition / Mark Haub / The purpose of this review is to examine the role of heart rate variability (HRV) as a predictor of athletic readiness and performance and assess whether nutrition strategies can be implemented to create favorable HRV indices with the goal of improving athletic readiness and performance. The balance between training and recovery is crucial for reaching an optimal adaptation and avoiding overtraining, allowing for improved readiness to train and compete. The measurement of HRV is non-invasive and is used primarily to quantify physical and mental stress in athletes by monitoring the effects of the autonomic nervous system on the heart. Current data suggests a relationship between resting parasympathetic tone, via time and frequency domains, and athletic performance. Parasympathetic modulated HRV indices have been associated with performance metrics such as peripheral work capacity, aerobic power, running and sprint performance, swimming performance, weight lifting performance, anaerobic capacity, strength, and enhanced mental focus/skill execution. The use of nutrition to help enhance sports performance is becoming more common. Evidence-based sports nutrition provides fuel for training/competition, assists in maximizing training adaptations, enhances recovery, improves mental focus, and aids in injury prevention and recovery. The use of nutrition strategies to influence HRV is novel and current evidence is scarce in regards to nutritional effects on HRV, specifically in athletes. Current research suggests that achieving energy balance and decreasing body fat in overweight/obese individuals has positive effects on the vagal component of HRV indices. Proper hydration, fruit and vegetable intake, a moderate carbohydrate diet, omega-3 fatty acid supplementation/intake also seem to have positive effects on HRV indices. Certain individual supplements have been studied in regards to HRV including casein hydrolysate, amaranth oil, and bovine colostrum. Caffeine seems to have the opposite effect on HRV indices, increasing sympathetic modulation while decreasing parasympathetic modulation. Much more research needs to be done in regard to potential nutritional influences on HRV so that sport dietitians feel confident in the methods currently used to assess athlete readiness and determining what types of nutrition strategies may be used to further improve the performance of an athlete.

Objective: The purpose of this dissertation was to reproduce Thayer and Lane’s (2000) neurovisceral model by examining both tonic and phasic heart rate variability (HRV) and emotion regulation (ER), and explore the effects of brief evidence-based intervention techniques in a sample of adults with clinically elevated levels of anxiety. Methods: This was a comprehensive multi-methodological study of 34 adults (ages 19 to 63 years) with clinically elevated levels of anxiety. Study 1 examined subjective and physiological effects of implementing ER strategies in response to a well-validated emotion elicitation paradigm consisting of viewing emotion-eliciting aversive images and sentences. Study 2 employed a within-subject RCT design and compared the impact of cognitive restructuring (CR), a top-down ER technique, with open monitoring mindfulness (OM), a bottom-up ER technique. Effects of intervention on self-regulation were assessed at a physiological (i.e. HRV), behavioral (i.e. ER and executive function (EF) computerized task) and subjective (i.e. self-report questionnaires) level. Results: Study 1 revealed that tonic HRV significantly predicted perceived ER success for both top-down and bottom-up generated emotions, whereas phasic HRV only predicted perceived ER success under conditions of bottom-up emotion generation. Variability emerged in our findings depending on the unique ER strategy used. Study 2 indicated a significant time by intervention effect on phasic HRV on the ER task, where HRV decreased with CR and increased with OM. There was a main effect of age independent of intervention on the EF task, such that increased age was related to increased phasic reactivity. On the ER task, CR led to greater perceived success in cognitive reappraisal. On the EF task, CR became faster, whereas OM became slower but more accurate. Significant intervention effects were also found on self-reported anxiety and aspects of mindfulness, with greatest reductions in anxiety found in OM compared to CR. Conclusions: In keeping with the neurovisceral integration model, HRV was reduced in individuals’ with clinically elevated levels of anxiety. Moreover, our findings illustrate that the method of emotion generation and regulation matters and has a significant impact on the degree to which persons with clinical levels of anxiety are able to successfully self-regulate. Finally, our results demonstrate the utility of multi-modal assessment of cognitive and emotional dysregulation in anxiety disorders, as well as the different pathways through which different interventions can impact HRV and ameliorate symptoms of anxiety. / Graduate

abstract: Low-income Mexican American women face significant risk for poor health during the postpartum period. Chronic stressors are theorized to negatively impact mental and physical health outcomes. However, physiological factors associated with increased self-regulatory capacity, such as resting heart rate variability, may buffer the impact of stress. In a sample of 322 low-income Mexican American women (mother age 18-42; 84% Spanish-speaking; modal family income $10,000-$15,000), the interactive influence of resting heart rate variability and three chronic prenatal stressors (daily hassles, negative life events, economic stress) on maternal cortisol output, depressive symptoms, and self-rated health at 12 weeks postpartum was assessed. The hypothesized interactive effects between resting heart rate variability and the chronic prenatal stressors on the health outcomes were not supported by the data. However, results showed that a higher number of prenatal daily hassles was associated with increased postpartum depressive symptoms, and a higher number of prenatal negative life events was associated with lower postpartum cortisol output. These results suggest that elevated chronic stress during the prenatal period may increase risk for poor health during the postpartum period. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Psychology 2015

Wellbeing and subjective wellbeing (SWB) has become some the most important goals of our time, both individually and societally. Thus, there is a need for reliable ways to measure SWB, as concerns regarding many current measures have been raised. Due to the interwoven nature of physiology and psychology, heart rate variability (HRV) has the potential to assess psychological processes in a physiological manner. HRV is an attractive measure since it is inexpensive, easy and non-invasive. Hence, the aim is to, from a cognitive neuroscientific standpoint, investigate whether HRV could serve as an objective measure to assess SWB. Most studies demonstrate associations between HRV and SWB, in particular between high frequency (HF)-HRV and positive affect (PA). However, the one study fully matching the theoretical framework only showed an inverse correlation between HRV and negative affect (NA). Plausibly implying that HRV does not serve as a reliable measure of SWB, but may be able to indicate inverse associations with NA, and possibly index certain aspect of SWB such as deactivated PA. The study of the relationship between HRV and SWB is still in its infancy and results are inconsistent. The lack of common standards regarding measurements, implementation details, and variable values, make results difficult to compare and generalize. Further standardizations and research are much needed before accurate conclusions can be drawn.

Orientador: Simone Biagio Chiacchio / Resumo: Atualmente, observa-se uma maior necessidade de uma assistência adequada tanto no período pré-natal, quanto neonatal, com a finalidade de redução da mortalidade de recém-nascidos, principalmente de animais com elevado valor genético e zootécnico, como os jumentos da raça Pêga. Desta forma, o presente estudo teve por objetivo, descrever os parâmetros clínicos, eletrocardiográficos (ECG) e índices de variabilidade da frequência cardíaca (VFC) em jumentas (no período pré e pós-parto), fetos (35 dias antes do parto) e na fase neonatal, até os 35 dias de idade. Para tal, utilizou-se 10 jumentas clinicamente saudáveis, no terço final de gestação e pós parto, 10 fetos e 10 neonatos pertencentes à raça Pêga, cujo os exames foram realizados ao 35º, 28º, 21º, 14º, 7º e 1º dia antes do parto (jumentas prenhes e fetos) e ao 1º, 7º, 14º, 21º, 28º e 35º dia após o parto para jumentas no período pós-parto e neonatos. Os índices da VFC em jumentas no período pós parto, diferiram significativamente (p<0,05) dentre os momentos de análise, onde o SDNN (ms) variou no primeiro dia após o parto, a RMSSD (ms) no primeiro e 14º dia após o parto, e BF (nu) e a relação BF/AF (nu) no primeiro dia após o parto. As jumentas apresentaram FC constante nos momentos analisados, enquanto que no período pós-parto, apresentaram redução, ambos não significativos. No traçado eletrocardiográfico das jumentas, observou-se significância (p<0,05) na FC (bpm), PR (ms), QT (ms), QTc (ms), T (ms) e R (mV) na derivação b... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Currently, there is a greater need for adequate prenatal and neonatal care in order to reduce the mortality of newborns, especially animals with high genetic and zootechnical value, such as Pêga donkeys. The aim of the present study was to describe the clinical parameters, electrocardiographic (ECG) and heart rate variability (HRV) indices in donkeys (pre and postpartum), fetuses (35 days before delivery) and in the neonatal phase, up to 35 days of age. For this, 10 clinically healthy donkeys were used, in the final third of gestation and postpartum, 10 fetuses and 10 neonates belonging to the Pêga breed, whose examinations were performed at 35º, 28º, 21º, 14º, 7º and 1º day before (pregnant donkeys and fetuses) and at the 1st, 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th and 35th days after delivery for postpartum donkeys and neonates. The HRV indices in donkeys in the postpartum period differed significantly (p <0.05) between the moments of analysis, where the SDNN (ms) ranged on the first day after delivery, the SDSS (ms) on the first and 14th day after delivery, and BF (nude) and the BF / AF ratio (nude) on the first day postpartum. The asses presented constant HR at the analyzed moments, while in the postpartum period, they presented reduction, both of which were not significant. In the electrocardiographic tracing of donkeys, significance was found (p <0.05) for HR (bpm), PR (ms), QT (ms), QTc (ms), T (ms) and R (mV) apex. And in the frontal plane the variables FC (bpm), PR (ms), QT (ms) and ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Submitted by Amanda Sarita Cruz Aleixo null (amanda.cruz21@hotmail.com) on 2016-12-21T14:03:47Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Mestrado Amanda 2016.pdf: 1470462 bytes, checksum: b63a97da00d57805ec17f0f5d0b74cd9 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Felipe Augusto Arakaki (arakaki@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-12-22T11:54:17Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 aleixo_asc_me_bot.pdf: 1470462 bytes, checksum: b63a97da00d57805ec17f0f5d0b74cd9 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-22T11:54:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 aleixo_asc_me_bot.pdf: 1470462 bytes, checksum: b63a97da00d57805ec17f0f5d0b74cd9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-12 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A relação alométrica entre frequência cardíaca (FC) e peso corporal, postulada há anos, vem sendo refutada. Estudos acerca da variação e influência de fatores sobre parâmetros hemodinâmicos e eletrocardiográficos em cães não são abundantes. O escopo deste estudo foi avaliar a relação entre FC e peso corporal em cães, bem como a influência do peso sobre os parâmetros eletrocardiográficos (ECG). Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo (1) mediante a análise da relação entre FC, parâmetros eletrocardiográficos e peso corporal através de traçados de ECG armazenados pelo Serviço de Cardiologiadurante os anos de 2012-2013;já no estudoprospectivo (2) – utilizou-se a eletrocardiografia e o exame de Holter para análise da variabilidade da frequência cardíaca e determinação das variáveis clínicas: peso corporal, idade, raça, sexo, temperamento, frequência respiratória (FR), temperatura corporal, pressão arterial sistêmica e dosagem séricade adrenalina e noradrenalina, dividindo-se os cães em cinco grupos de peso: < 5 kg (8), 5-10 (10), 10-25 (10), 25-45 (10) e > 45 kg (10). As variáveis do ECG variaram conforme o peso. A amplitude da onda R foi maior em cães com idade acima de cinco anos. A concentração de adrenalina aumentou conforme aumento do peso corporal. A FC foi maior no grupo de animais nervosos e a FR foi maior no grupo de animais agitados. As correlações obtidas entre FC e peso e FC e ASC foram fracas. Não houve diferença entre os índices do Holter entre os grupos de pesos.Não existe relação alométrica entre FC e peso corporal em cães. Existe uma relação diretamente proporcional entre adrenalina e peso em cães. O temperamento altera os parâmetros clínicos FC e FR. O peso influencia as variáveis eletrocardiográficas. A análise da FC deve ser realizada considerando-se patamares (direcionada ao metabolismo energético, segundo a faixa etária, sexo e temperamento). / The allometric relationship between heart rate (HR) and body weight, posited for years, has been refuted. Studies on the variation and influence of several factors on the hemodynamic and electrocardiographic parameters in dogs are not plentiful. The scope of this study was to evaluate the relationship between HR and body weight in healthy dogs, as well as the influence of the weight on the electrocardiographic parameters (ECG). We conducted a retrospective study (1) by means of the analysis of the relationship between HR, electrocardiographic parameters and body weight in ECG tracings stored by cardiology department during the years 2012-2013; prospective study (2)analyzing the ambulatory electrocardiogram and by Holter method for analysis of heart rate variability and clinical variables measurement: body weight, age, breed, gender, temperament, breath rate (BR), body temperature and blood pressure, and dosage of serum catecholamines epinephrine and norepinephrine, into five groups of dogs divided according to different weight ranges: < 5 kg (8), 5-10 (10), 10-25 (10), 25-45 (10) e > 45 kg (10). The ECG variables varied according to weight. The amplitude of the R wave was higher in dogs above five years. The epinephrine concentration increased as body weight increased. HR was higher in the group of nervous animals and BR was higher in the group with agitated animals. The correlations between HR and weight and HR and body surface area were weak. There was no difference between the Holter indices among the weight groups. There is no allometric relationship between HR and body weight in dogs. There is a directly proportional relationship between epinephrine and weight in dogs. Temperament changes the clinical parameters HR and BR. The weight influences the electrocardiographic variables. The HR analysis should be performed considering levels (directed to energy metabolism, according to age, gender and temperament).

Objetivos/Hipótese: A Piridostigmina bloqueia a acetilcolinesterase, promove estimulação colinérgica e aumenta a variabilidade da freqüência cardíaca (VFC) em indivíduos saudáveis e com insuficiência cardíaca. Os efeitos sobre a modulação autonômica no diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2) são desconhecidos. Nós testamos a hipótese de que a administração de piridostigmina aumenta a VFC em pacientes com DM2 e neuropatia autonômica cardiovascular (NAC). Métodos: Estudamos 34 pacientes com DM2 e NAC com idade entre 30 e 70 anos. Dezessete receberam 30 mg de piridostigmina via oral, de 8/8h por 24h (PI) e 17 receberam placebo (PL). A VFC foi avaliada pela média (RRMed) e desvio padrão dos intervalos RR (SDNN), pela raiz quadrada da média das diferenças sucessivas entre intervalos RR (RMSSD) e pelos índices do Mapa de Retorno Tridimensional P1, P2, P3 e MN. Resultados: Não houve diferenças significativas entre os grupos PI e PL quanto às características clínicas basais e à VFC sob efeito de piridostigmina e PL (RRMed - 748 ± 99 vs 733 ± 111ms; SDNN - 107 ± 26 vs 108 ± 36ms; RRMSD - 20,7 ± 12,7 vs 20,3 ± 10ms; P1 - 63 ± 11 vs 69 ± 14; P2 - 66 ±13 vs 63 ± 15; P3 - 86 ± 34 vs 80 ± 24 e MN - 392 ± 241 vs 369 ± 185). Conclusão: A piridostigmina não modifica a VFC em pacientes com DM2 e NAC. / Aims/Hypothesis: Pyridostigmine blocks acetylcholinesterase, promotes cholinergic stimulation and increases heart rate variability (HRV) in healthy individuals and with cardiac heart failure. The effects on the autonomic modulation in diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) are unknown. We have tested the hypothesis that the administration of pyridostigmine increases HRV in DM2 and CAN patients (CAN). Methods: We have studied 34 DM2 and CAN patients aged between 30 and 70 years old. Seventeen received 30mg of pyridostigmine via oral administration, every 8 hours during 24 hours (PY) and 17 received placebo (PL). HRV was assessed by the mean of all normal R-R intervals RR (mean RR) and the standard deviation of all normal R-R intervals (SDNN), by the root-mean-square of successive differences (RMSSD) and by the three-dimensional return map indices P1, P2, P3 and MN. Results: There were no significant differences between the PY and PL groups as to the baseline clinical characteristics and to HRV under the effect of pyridostigmine and PL (mean RR - 748 ± 99 vs 733 ± 111ms; SDNN - 107 ± 26 vs 108 ± 36ms; RRMSD - 20,7 ± 12,7 vs 20,3 ± 10ms; P1 - 63 ± 11 vs 69 ± 14; P2 - 66 ±13 vs 63 ± 15; P3 - 86 ± 34 vs 80 ± 24 e MN - 392 ± 241 vs 369 ± 185). Conclusion: Pyridostigmine does not modify HRV in DM2 and CAN patients.