Numerous studies have revealed neural correlates of autonomic activity. However, ambiguity exists regarding whether those correlates reflect receiving or sending autonomic signals. Additionally, little is known about how aging affects relationships between brain activity and autonomic activity. The current study employs a new approach to examine the neural correlates of afferent and efferent autonomic activity by using the resting-state blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) and time-varying heart rate variability (HRV) data of 102 younger and 51 older adults. Functionally afferent regions where decreases in HRV were associated with subsequently increased BOLD activity included the posterior insula, postcentral gyrus and frontal pole. Functionally efferent regions where increased activity was associated with subsequently increased HRV included the anterior insula and cingulate. Information appeared to flow one direction as the afferent regions' activity Granger-predicted the efferent regions' activity. Together, the findings suggest a resting-state feedback loop where decreased HRV increases the afferent regions' activity, which activates the efferent regions, leading to increased HRV. This feedback loop seems to deteriorate in aging, with older adults no longer showing as clear spatial distinctions between efferent and afferent processing, nor as much of the causal flow of activity from afferent to efferent brain regions.
Min, J., Liu, G., Dahl, M. J., Lee, T.-H., Nashiro, K., Yoo, H. J., Cho, C., Bogdan, P., Chang, C., Lehrer, P., Thayer, J. F., Mather, M.
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