A. S. Karavaev

The causal relationship between subcortical local field potential oscillations and Parkinsonian resting tremor

To study the dynamical mechanism which generates Parkinsonian resting tremor, we apply coupling directionality analysis to local field potentials (LFP) and accelerometer signals recorded in an ensemble of 48 tremor epochs in four Parkinsonian patients with depth electrodes implanted in the ventro-intermediate nucleus of the thalamus (VIM) or the subthalmic nucleus (STN). Apart from the traditional linear Granger causality method we use two nonlinear techniques: phase dynamics modelling and nonlinear Granger causality. We detect a bidirectional coupling between the subcortical (VIM or STN) oscillation and the tremor, in the theta range (around 5 Hz) as well as broadband (>2 Hz). In particular, we show that the theta band LFP oscillations definitely play an efferent role in tremor generation, while beta band LFP oscillations might additionally contribute. The brain-->tremor driving is a complex, nonlinear mechanism, which is reliably detected with the two nonlinear techniques only. In contrast, the tremor-->brain driving is detected with any of the techniques including the linear one, though the latter is less sensitive. The phase dynamics modelling (applied to theta band oscillations) consistently reveals a long delay in the order of 1-2 mean tremor periods for the brain-->tremor driving and a small delay, compatible with the neural transmission time, for the proprioceptive feedback. Granger causality estimation (applied to broadband signals) does not provide reliable estimates of the delay times, but is even more sensitive to detect the brain-->tremor influence than the phase dynamics modelling.

Synchronization of low-frequency oscillations in the human cardiovascular system.

We investigate synchronization between the low-frequency oscillations of heart rate and blood pressure having in humans a basic frequency close to 0.1 Hz. A method is proposed for quantitative estimation of synchronization between these oscillating processes based on calculation of relative time of phase synchronization of oscillations. It is shown that healthy subjects exhibit on average substantially longer epochs of internal synchronization between the low-frequency oscillations in heart rate and blood pressure than patients after acute myocardial infarction.

Evaluation of 5‐Year Risk of Cardiovascular Events in Patients after Acute Myocardial Infarction Using Synchronization of 0.1‐Hz Rhythms in Cardiovascular System

Background: Synchronization between 0.1‐Hz rhythms in cardiovascular system is deteriorated at acute myocardial infarction (AMI) leading to a disruption of natural functional couplings within the system of autonomic regulation.

Phase and frequency locking of 0.1-Hz oscillations in heart rate and baroreflex control of blood pressure by breathing of linearly varying frequency as determined in healthy subjects

Functional interaction was studied between the subsystems that ensure autonomic control of the heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) and give rise to 0.1-Hz oscillations in R-R intervals (RRI) and photoplethysmogram (PPG). Twenty-five recordings were obtained from 18- to 32-year-old healthy persons (six women and nineteen men). The RRI and PPG were recorded simultaneously while the respiration rate of a subject in the sitting position increased linearly from 0.05 Hz to 0.25 Hz within 25 min. Phase and frequency locking of 0.1-Hz oscillations by breathing proved to be possible in both RRI and PPG. The intervals of phase and frequency locking of oscillations by respiration differed in duration and relative position. These distinctions suggest that the mechanisms of autonomic 0.1-Hz control of HR and BP are functionally independent.

Hidden data transmission based on time-delayed feedback system with switched delay time

A scheme of hidden data transmission based on time-delayed feedback system with switched delay time is described. Efficiency of the proposed system and high resistance to interference in the communication channel is demonstrated in numerical experiments on model ring systems with time-delayed feedback.

Selection of optimal dose of beta-blocker treatment in myocardial infarction patients based on changes in synchronization between 0.1 Hz oscillations in heart rate and peripheral microcirculation.

Background Selection of the optimal dose of beta-blocker treatment in myocardial infarction (MI) patients is problematic because of a lack of well-established guidelines. Methods We evaluated changes in synchronization between 0.1 Hz oscillations in heart rate (HR) and plethysmographic peripheral microcirculation in response to a tilt-table test and to 3-month treatment with the highest tolerated beta-blocker (metoprolol) dose in 43 patients aged between 41 and 77 years with acute MI 6 months prior to the start of the study. Before the study the patients were treated with small doses of beta-blocker. Phase differences between HR and peripheral microcirculation oscillations were used to measure the degree of synchronization (S), and relative change in S from horizontal position was used to characterize the response to vertical tilt. Results Two groups of MI patients matched for clinical characteristics were identified on the basis of the results. The first group was composed of patients with decreased S as a response to vertical tilt at the beginning of the study. The patients with increased S during vertical tilt before treatment with the highest tolerated beta-blocker dose were attributed to the second group. The response to vertical tilt in the first group of patients was postulated to indicate the need to increase beta-blocker dose, and in turn, the response in the second group to indicate an already adequate beta-blocker dose. Conclusion Assessment of synchronization of 0.1 Hz HR and peripheral microcirculation oscillations as a response to a tilt test can possibly be used as a guideline for selecting beta-blocker dose in post-MI patients.

Recovery of parameters of delayed-feedback systems from chaotic time series

Methods for reconstructing a delay differential equation from the time series of an observable quantity are proposed for various classes of time-delay systems. The methods rely on knowledge of the distributions of extrema of the time series of observed oscillations and projection of the infinite-dimensional phase spaces of time-delay systems onto special low-dimensional subspaces. The effectiveness of the proposed methods is demonstrated by reconstructing delay differential equations from their chaotic solutions, including those corrupted by noise, and by constructing models of real time-delay systems from chaotic time series.

Interaction of 0.1-Hz oscillations in heart rate variability and distal blood flow variability

Biophysical features of 0.1-Hz oscillations of heart rate variability (HRV) and distal blood flow (DBF) variability were compared in healthy subjects and patients after acute myocardial infarction (MI). Patients with acute MI (72 men and 53 women; 125 in total) and healthy subjects (23 men and 10 women; 33 in total) aged 30–83 and 20–46 years, respectively, participated in the study. The patients were involved in the study for a year after acute MI. The delay in coupling 0.1-Hz oscillations of HRV and DBF variability was estimated. In healthy subjects, the delay in the heart → DBF coupling proved to be less than the delay in the DBF → heart coupling. Acute MI results mainly in disruption of the heart → DBF coupling, which is partially restored by the end of the first year after acute MI, though it remains lower than in healthy subjects. The DBF → heart coupling is rapidly restored to the level of healthy subjects within three weeks after acute MI.

An experimental system for hidden data transmission based on a delayed-feedback generator with switching of chaotic modes

A system for hidden data transmission based on a delayed-feedback generator with switching of chaotic modes was designed and constructed. It was demonstrated that this system was highly resistant to noises and amplitude distortions of the signal in the communication channel.

An Experimental Communication Scheme Based on Chaotic Time-Delay System with Switched Delay

We develop an experimental secure communication system with chaotic switching. The proposed scheme is based on time-delayed feedback oscillator with switching of chaotic regimes. The scheme shows high tolerance to external noise and amplitude distortions of the signal in a communication channel.