Key result
Higher HRV complexity correlates with lower EEG alpha-theta ratio and better inhibitory control.
Why the study?
Motor inhibition is influenced by Central Autonomic Network activity, prompting investigation into the two-way brain-heart interaction during a Go/NoGo task.
Cross-Sectional (n=14)
No
Effect estimate: Rho = -0.758
p-value: p=0.001
A higher functional setup of the Central Autonomic Network, reflected by integrated HRV and EEG parameters, is linked to more effective inhibitory control and better cognitive task performance.
Hypothesis-generating for brain-heart metrics in cognitive control; leaves open clinical relevance and causality in larger or patient cohorts.
BACKGROUND: Motor inhibition is a complex cognitive function regulated by specific brain regions and influenced by the activity of the Central Autonomic Network. We investigate the two-way Brain-Heart interaction during a Go/NoGo task. Spectral EEG ϑ, α powerbands, and HRV parameters (Complexity Index (CI), Low Frequency (LF) and High Frequency (HF) powers) were recorded. METHODS: Fourteen healthy volunteers were enrolled. We used a modified version of the classical Go/NoGo task, based on Rule Shift Cards, characterized by a baseline and two different tasks of different complexity. The participants were divided into subjects with Good (GP) and Poor (PP) performances. RESULTS: In the baseline, CI was negatively correlated with α/ϑ. In task 1, the CI was negatively correlated with the errors and α/ϑ, while the errors were positively correlated with α/ϑ. In task 2, CI was negatively correlated with the Reaction Time and positively with α, and the errors were negatively correlated with the Reaction Time and positively correlated with α/ϑ. The GP group showed, at baseline, a negative correlation between CI and α/ϑ. CONCLUSIONS: We provide a new combined Brain-Heart model underlying inhibitory control abilities. The results are consistent with the complementary role of α and ϑ oscillations in cognitive control.
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Cortese et al. (2022) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy volunteers (n=14). Modified Go/NoGo cognitive task vs. Baseline resting state was evaluated on Correlation between HRV Complexity Index (CI) and EEG α/ϑ ratio at baseline (Rho = -0.758, p=0.001). Higher HRV complexity index negatively correlated with the EEG α/ϑ ratio and errors during a Go/NoGo task, indicating that better integrated brain-heart interaction correlates with effective inhibitory control.
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