Stochastic dynamics of the cardiovascular system

McClintock, Peter V. E. and Stefanovska, Aneta (2004) Stochastic dynamics of the cardiovascular system. Proceedings of SPIE, 5467. pp. 54-68. ISSN 0277-786X

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Abstract

The human cardiovascular system (CVS), responsible for the delivery of nutrients and removal of waste products to/from the entire body, is a highly complex system involving many control mechanisms. Signals derived from the CVS are inherently difficult to analyse because they are noisy, time-varying, and of necessarily limited duration. The application of techniques drawn from nonlinear science has, however, yielded many insights into the nature of the CVS, and has provided strong evidence for a large degree of determinism in the way it functions. Yet there is compelling evidence that random fluctuations (noise) also play an essential role. There are at least five oscillatory processes of widely differing frequency involved in the blood distribution. The evidence for them, and their probable physiological origins, are discussed. Interactions between some of the processes can give rise to modulation and synchronization phenomena, very similar to those observed in classical oscillators in many areas of physics. The extent to which the CVS can be modelled as a stochastic nonlinear dynamical system is reviewed, and future research directions and possible applications based on this perception are considered.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Proceedings of SPIE
Additional Information:
Copyright 2004 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited. http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.555849
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/researchoutput/libraryofcongress/qc
Subjects:
?? qc physics ??
ID Code:
25506
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
17 Mar 2009 14:11
Refereed?:
No
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
21 Jan 2024 00:14