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The role of the central nervous system in sudden cardiac death: Heartbeat dynamics in conscious pigs during coronary occlusion, psychologic stress and intracerebral propranolol

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Abstract

Electrocardiograms were recorded in conscious pigs during psychological stress (touching), left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion, intracerebral levo-propranolol (0.05 mg/kg), and their respective controls. The R-R intervals were evaluated with both a deterministic measure (point correlation dimension) and a stochastic one (mean). Only the deterministic measure was sensitive to between-subject responses (P<.01), whereas both measures were sensitive to within-subject changes. The results are explained by a deterministic model of heartbeat generation.

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Supported by the National Institute of Health Grant NS 27745.

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Skinner, J.E. The role of the central nervous system in sudden cardiac death: Heartbeat dynamics in conscious pigs during coronary occlusion, psychologic stress and intracerebral propranolol. Integrative Physiological and Behavioral Science 29, 355–361 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02691355

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