Heart rate

…weight, clinical state, together with heart rate (HR) and activity (Act) generated via transmitter. Male BDIX rats (n=14) were single-housed in cages equipped with a running

Respiratory dysfunction, particularly central apnea, accompanied by cardiac abnormalities are proposed to be the underlying causes of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). Apnea in SUDEP is characterised by prologued hypercapnia with severe hypoventilation. We propose that this implies an impairment at the level of central CO2 chemoreception (CCR) drive for breathing which is coupled with cardiodysregulation. CCR can be quantified with ventilatory response to hypercapnic challenge and has not been previously studied in a chronic model of temporal lobe epilepsy, in which SUDEP may be obs

Comprehensive, continuous quantitative monitoring of intricately orchestrated physiological processes and behavioral states in living organisms provides an important tool for elucidating the function of neural circuits under healthy and diseased conditions, for defining the effects of potential drugs and treatments, and for monitoring disease progression and recovery. Here, we report a wireless, battery-free implantable device and a set of associated algorithms that enables continuous, multiparametric physio-behavioral monitoring in freely behaving small animals and interacting groups, through

…shown that optogenetically elevating heart-rate increases the activity of individual pInsCtx neurons as well as induces anxiety. Additionally, perturbing heart-to-brain communication using vagus nerve stimulation impedes fear extinction in a pInsCtx-dependent manner. However, we currently lack a mechanistic understa

…of the motor vagus nerve is known for heart rate, the systems-level dynamics of control are not well understood. Therefore, we aim to identify the motor vagal circuits that implement cardiac control functions, such as regulation of heart rate, cardiac output, and blood pressure, which are the crucial components of organismal homeostasis. Here, we use larval zebrafish as our model organisms due to their regenerative capability, optical trans

…play a pivotal role in controlling heart function, yet it remains unknown how PAG circuits process interoceptive signals as part of a defensive reaction to threats. Employing trans-synaptic retrograde tracing, we demonstrate that glycinergic neur

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a commonly used thermoplastic in industry due to its excellent malleability and thermal stability, making it extensively employed in packaging manufacturing. Inadequate disposal of PET packaging in the environment and natural physical-chemical processes leads to the formation of smaller particles known as PET micro and nanoplastics (MNPs). The reduced dimensions enhance particle bioavailability and, subsequently, their reactivity. This study involved chemical degradation of PET using trifluoroacetic acid to assess the impact of exposure to varying concentrat

Decades of research have investigated the relationship between perception of time and heart rate with often mixed results. In search of such a relationship, I will present my far journey between two projects: from time perception in the realistic VR experience of crowded subway trips in the order of minutes (project 1); to the perceived duration of sub-second white noise tones (project 2). Heart rate had multiple concurrent relationships with subjective temporal distortions for the sub-second tones, while the effects were lacking or weak for the supra-minute subway trips. What does the heart h

…such as variations in breathing or heart rate, sweaty palms, or facial expressions. It has been suggested that this interoceptive information acts as a feedback signal to the brain, enabling adaptive modulation of emotions that is essential for survival. As such, fear, one of our basic emotions, must be kept in a functional balance to minimize risk-taking while allowing for the pursuit of essential needs. However, the neural mechanisms underlying this adaptive modulation of fear remain poorly understood. In