Key result
A hypothetical nonlinear control mechanism based on sinoatrial pacemaker cell dynamics produces a tempered Lévy distribution that explains the non-Gaussian statistics of healthy heart rate variability.
Why the study?
Previous heuristic arguments supported a tempering conjecture for heart rate long-term statistics using exponentially truncated waiting times, but formal parameterization of the control process tempering the Levy process was needed.
Theoretical modeling using fractional probability calculus supports the hypothesis that disease represents a loss of physiologic complexity in heart rate variability.
In the last three decades, the analysis of heart rate variability by nonlinear methods demonstrated the complexity of cardiovascular regulation. Additionally to the observations of periodic heart rate regulation by the autonomic nervous system, the long-term statistics of the heart rate has been determined to reminisce a tempered Lévy process. A number of heuristic arguments have previously been made to support a tempering conjecture, using exponentially truncated waiting times for the time intervals between heart beats. Herein we use the fractional probability calculus to frame our arguments and to parameterize the control process that tempers the Lévy process through a collective-induced potential. We also determine that the hypothesis of a self-induced nonlinear potential control resulting in such a tempered Lévy process is consistent with the hypothesis of disease being the loss of physiologic complexity made over 25 years ago.
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West et al. (2019) studied Congestive heart failure. A hypothetical nonlinear control mechanism based on sinoatrial pacemaker cell dynamics produces a tempered Lévy distribution that explains the non-Gaussian statistics of healthy heart rate variability.
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