Functional Linear and Nonlinear Brain–Heart Interplay during Emotional Video Elicitation: A Maximum Information Coefficient Study

Vincenzo Catrambone,Enzo Pasquale Scilingo,Alberto Greco,Gaetano Valenza

doi:10.3390/e21090892

Vincenzo Catrambone, Enzo Pasquale Scilingo + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/e21090892

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Journal: Entropy	Publication Date: Sep 14, 2019
Citations: 20	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Piaggio (Italy), University of Pisa

Abstract

Brain and heart continuously interact through anatomical and biochemical connections. Although several brain regions are known to be involved in the autonomic control, the functional brain–heart interplay (BHI) during emotional processing is not fully characterized yet. To this aim, we investigate BHI during emotional elicitation in healthy subjects. The functional linear and nonlinear couplings are quantified using the maximum information coefficient calculated between time-varying electroencephalography (EEG) power spectra within the canonical bands ( and ), and time-varying low-frequency and high-frequency powers from heartbeat dynamics. Experimental data were gathered from 30 healthy volunteers whose emotions were elicited through pleasant and unpleasant high-arousing videos. Results demonstrate that functional BHI increases during videos with respect to a resting state through EEG oscillations not including the band (>30 Hz). Functional linear coupling seems associated with a high-arousing positive elicitation, with preferred EEG oscillations in the band ( Hz) especially over the left-temporal and parietal cortices. Differential functional nonlinear coupling between emotional valence seems to mainly occur through EEG oscillations in the bands and sympathovagal dynamics, as well as through oscillations and parasympathetic activity mainly over the right hemisphere. Functional BHI through and oscillations over the prefrontal region seems primarily nonlinear. This study provides novel insights on synchronous heartbeat and cortical dynamics during emotional video elicitation, also suggesting that a nonlinear analysis is needed to fully characterize functional BHI.

Highlights

Emotions in humans are fundamental psychophysiological adaptations to the external environment [1,2,3]
central nervous system (CNS)-autonomous nervous system (ANS) interplay has recently been scientifically formalized through the definition of the so-called central autonomic network, which comprises CNS areas known to be involved in the autonomic control including brainstem nuclei and a number of forebrain regions [6,7,8]
In a recent study [35], we investigated functional linear or nonlinear brain–heart interplay (BHI) by computing the maximum information coefficient (MIC) between EEG and HRV power series in healthy subjects whose emotions were elicited through images

Summary

Introduction

Emotions in humans are fundamental psychophysiological adaptations to the external environment [1,2,3]. According to the James–Lange theory [4], emotions are cognitive reactions to physiological peripheral responses to stimuli, whereas they are peripheral reactions to a central nervous system (CNS) processing to stimuli according to Cannon–Bard and Papez–MacLean theories [5]. Contradicting, these theories all assert that a significant interplay between CNS and peripheral systems exists, referring to the autonomous nervous system (ANS) activity on cardiovascular control [3]. The ANS maintains the body homeostasis and regulates emotional processes through the continuous activity of its sympathetic and parasympathetic branches [2]. CNS-ANS interplay has recently been scientifically formalized through the definition of the so-called central autonomic network, which comprises CNS areas known to be involved in the autonomic control including brainstem nuclei and a number of forebrain regions [6,7,8].

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