Cerebral cortex and sub-cortex lateralization in cardiovascular regulation: Correlations of BOLD fMRI and heart rate variability

The role of cerebral cortex in cardiovascular regulation has not yet been mapped in detail. Especially the lateralization of different regions that are connected to cardiovascular modulation is still unknown. In this study we used simultaneously measured electrocardiography (ECG) and blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) fMRI to examine the correlation of cerebral cortex and sub-cortex activation and heart rate variability parameters. Correlations were calculated for 11 subjects. Regions of interest (ROIs) were predefined from observations made in previous studies. Lateralization was studied by forming ratios of left and right hemisphere activations in ROIs and calculating correlations of these to heart rate variability (HRV) parameters. Statistically significant correlations were found in every ROI.