April 21, 2023 – To celebrate this significant occasion, we tap into the specialization thesis of our young physiatrists, Rachele Penati and Alessandro Robustelli. Their thesis examines the correlation between heart rate variability and cognitive flexibility, offering a new approach to evaluate Central Nervous System impairments. Here, you will find out how.
Within the Central Nervous System, there is a network that connects cortical and subcortical areas, such as the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala, to the brainstem nuclei responsible for controlling heart rate through the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. Thanks to this network, heart rate variability can indirectly represent cortical functionality, in particular cognitive flexibility, which is the ability to shift the attention from one task to another.
Why does it matter? Being aware of this correlation allows Villa Beretta Rehabilitation Research Innovation Institute to aim for maximum personalization of the treatment. This especially applies to stroke patients, who often show decreased cognitive flexibility due to the associated brain damage.
For these reasons, through the evaluation of heart rate variability using wearable sensor T-shirts, we are able to assess higher cortical functions. We also began evaluating in real time heart rate variability and thus cognitive flexibility during different types of exercise. Depending on the patient’s response to each exercise, we can determine which rehabilitative intervention is most suitable for them.
Stay tuned!
