8 A Self-Organized Rhythm in Peripheral Effectors: The Intermediary …
147
8.5 Conclusion
The improvement of computer-based evaluation of non-invasively obtained cardiovascular data is important for future research activities since the reduction of primary
experimental expenditure and progressively lowered invasiveness extends the range
of application. This brings about a dualistically operational advantage:
• recordings are far less invasive than any currently known invasive cardiovascular
technique (including the electrocardiogram which many patients detest due to fear
to be electrocuted);
• patients are not only able to naively relax under these conditions but they are
willing to subject themselves to long term measurement.
Two important advantages follow suit:
a. The fidelity of the measurement increases due to the lack of adverse effects of
the experimental setting (i.e. less noise is being recorded), and
b. information yet concealed can be retrieved by digital conversion of the data from
the conventionally analyzed amplitude domain into the frequency domain.
Looking at the different patterns, an entirely new “class” of scientific interpretations concerning the instantaneously changing forcefulness of activating and
inhibiting influences can be proposed. Where in the past, a somewhat trivializing
physical interpretation of the “superposition” of co-operating and “antagonizing”
influences was attempted we can now differentiate between variable “stability” of
a given “mode of operation”. Thence, entirely new information concerning subtle
differences in the coping of the subject with the experimental boundary conditions
becomes available.
It follows from this statement that perhaps the most important progress lies in
the discovery that using a minimally invasive method a “behavioural trait” of awake
human subjects could be discovered which not only relates to theoretically important
medical “categories”, but which aids in the practical application of the non-invasive
tool. While our investigation shows that a simple “definition” of “resting state” is
perhaps a difficult task, the insights now available make it possible to exclude an
individual subject and/or patient from measurement when the intermediary rhythm
has not yet emerged.
References
1. L. Bernardi, A. Radaelli, P.L. Solda, A.J.S. Coats, M. Reeder, A. Calciati, C.S. Garrard,
P. Sleight, Autonomic control of skin microvessels: assessment by power spectrum of
photoplethysmographic waves. Clin. Sci. 90, 345–355 (1996)
2. L. Bernardi, D. Hayoz, R. Wenzel, C. Passino, C. Calciati, R. Weber, G. Noll, Synchronous
and baroreceptor-sensitive oscillations in skin microcirculation: evidence for central autonomic
control. Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol. 273, H1867–H1878 (1997)
147
8.5 Conclusion
The improvement of computer-based evaluation of non-invasively obtained cardiovascular data is important for future research activities since the reduction of primary
experimental expenditure and progressively lowered invasiveness extends the range
of application. This brings about a dualistically operational advantage:
• recordings are far less invasive than any currently known invasive cardiovascular
technique (including the electrocardiogram which many patients detest due to fear
to be electrocuted);
• patients are not only able to naively relax under these conditions but they are
willing to subject themselves to long term measurement.
Two important advantages follow suit:
a. The fidelity of the measurement increases due to the lack of adverse effects of
the experimental setting (i.e. less noise is being recorded), and
b. information yet concealed can be retrieved by digital conversion of the data from
the conventionally analyzed amplitude domain into the frequency domain.
Looking at the different patterns, an entirely new “class” of scientific interpretations concerning the instantaneously changing forcefulness of activating and
inhibiting influences can be proposed. Where in the past, a somewhat trivializing
physical interpretation of the “superposition” of co-operating and “antagonizing”
influences was attempted we can now differentiate between variable “stability” of
a given “mode of operation”. Thence, entirely new information concerning subtle
differences in the coping of the subject with the experimental boundary conditions
becomes available.
It follows from this statement that perhaps the most important progress lies in
the discovery that using a minimally invasive method a “behavioural trait” of awake
human subjects could be discovered which not only relates to theoretically important
medical “categories”, but which aids in the practical application of the non-invasive
tool. While our investigation shows that a simple “definition” of “resting state” is
perhaps a difficult task, the insights now available make it possible to exclude an
individual subject and/or patient from measurement when the intermediary rhythm
has not yet emerged.
References
1. L. Bernardi, A. Radaelli, P.L. Solda, A.J.S. Coats, M. Reeder, A. Calciati, C.S. Garrard,
P. Sleight, Autonomic control of skin microvessels: assessment by power spectrum of
photoplethysmographic waves. Clin. Sci. 90, 345–355 (1996)
2. L. Bernardi, D. Hayoz, R. Wenzel, C. Passino, C. Calciati, R. Weber, G. Noll, Synchronous
and baroreceptor-sensitive oscillations in skin microcirculation: evidence for central autonomic
control. Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol. 273, H1867–H1878 (1997)