Phase transition in a healthy human heart rate

Phys Rev Lett. 2005 Jul 29;95(5):058101. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.058101. Epub 2005 Jul 28.

Abstract

A healthy human heart rate displays complex fluctuations which share characteristics of physical systems in a critical state. We demonstrate that the human heart rate in healthy individuals undergoes a dramatic breakdown of criticality characteristics, reminiscent of continuous second order phase transitions. By studying the germane determinants, we show that the hallmark of criticality--highly correlated fluctuations--is observed only during usual daily activity, and a breakdown of these characteristics occurs in prolonged, strenuous exercise and sleep. This finding is the first reported discovery of the dynamical phase transition phenomenon in a biological control system and will be a key to understanding the heart rate control system in health and disease.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Algorithms*
  • Circadian Rhythm / physiology*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Electrocardiography / methods*
  • Feedback / physiology
  • Heart Rate / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Models, Cardiovascular*
  • Models, Statistical
  • Reference Values