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Fractal mechanisms in the electrophysiology of the heartThe mathematical concept of fractals provides insights into complex anatomic branching structures that lack a characteristic (single) length scale, and certain complex physiologic processes, such as heart rate regulation, that lack a single time scale. Heart rate control is perturbed by alterations in neuro-autonomic function in a number of important clinical syndromes, including sudden cardiac death, congestive failure, cocaine intoxication, fetal distress, space sickness and physiologic aging. These conditions are associated with a loss of the normal fractal complexity of interbeat interval dynamics. Such changes, which may not be detectable using conventional statistics, can be quantified using new methods derived from "chaos theory.".
Document ID
20040089817
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Goldberger, A. L.
(Harvard Medical School United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: IEEE engineering in medicine and biology magazine : the quarterly magazine of the Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society
Volume: 11
Issue: 2
ISSN: 0739-5175
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Discipline Cardiopulmonary
NASA Discipline Number 14-10
Non-NASA Center
NASA Program Space Physiology and Countermeasures
Review, Tutorial
Review

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