Statistical, spectral and non-linear analysis of the heart rate variability during wakefulness and sleep.

As a first step in a program designed to study the central control of the heart rate variability (HRV) during sleep, we conducted polysomnographic and electrocardiogram recordings on chronically-prepared cats during semi- restricted conditions. We found that the tachogram, i.e. the pattern of heart beat intervals (RR intervals) was deeply modified on passing from alert wakefulness through quiet wakefulness (QW) to sleep. While the tachogram showed a rhythmical pattern coupled with respiratory activity during non-REM sleep (NREM), it turned chaotic during REM sleep. Statistical analyses of the RR intervals showed that the mean duration increased during sleep. HRV measured by the standard deviation of normal RR intervals (SDNN) and by the square root of the mean squared difference of successive intervals (rMSSD) were larger during REM and NREM sleep than during QW. SD-1 (a marker of short- term variability) and SD-2 (a marker of long-term variability) measured by means of Poincaré plots increased during both REM and NREM sleep compared to QW. Furthermore, in the spectral analysis of RR intervals, the band of high frequency (HF) was larger in NREM and REM sleep in comparison to QW, whereas the band of low frequency (LF) was larger only during REM sleep in comparison to QW. The LF/HF ratio was larger during QW compared either with REM or NREM sleep. Finally, sample entropy analysis used as a measure of complexity, was higher during NREM in comparison to REM sleep. In conclusion, HRV parameters, including complexity, are deeply modified across behavioral states.

Heart rate variability during carbachol-induced REM sleep and cataplexy.

The nucleus pontis oralis (NPO) exerts an executive control over REM sleep. Cholinergic input to the NPO is critical for REM sleep generation. In the cat, a single microinjection of carbachol (a cholinergic agonist) into the NPO produces either REM sleep (REMc) or wakefulness with muscle atonia (cataplexy, CA). In order to study the central control of the heart rate variability (HRV) during sleep, we conducted polysomnographic and electrocardiogram recordings from chronically prepared cats during REMc, CA as well as during sleep and wakefulness. Subsequently, we performed statistical and spectral analyses of the HRV. The heart rate was greater during CA compared to REMc, NREM or REM sleep. Spectral analysis revealed that the low frequency band (LF) power was significantly higher during REM sleep in comparison to REMc and CA. Furthermore, we found that during CA there was a decrease in coupling between the RR intervals plot (tachogram) and respiratory activity. In contrast, compared to natural behavioral states, during REMc and CA there were no significant differences in the HRV based upon the standard deviation of normal RR intervals (SDNN) and the mean squared difference of successive intervals (rMSSD). In conclusion, there were differences in the HRV during naturally-occurring REM sleep compared to REMc. In addition, in spite of the same muscle atonia, the HRV was different during REMc and CA. Therefore, the neuronal network that controls the HRV during REM sleep can be dissociated from the one that generates the muscle atonia during this state.