The Pattern of Sympathovagal Balance Explored in the Frequency Domain

News Physiol Sci. 1999 Jun:14:111-117. doi: 10.1152/physiologyonline.1999.14.3.111.

Abstract

In most physiological conditions, sympathetic and vagal activities modulating heart period undergo a reciprocal regulation, leading to the concept of sympathovagal balance. This pattern can be indirectly quantified by computing the spectral powers of the oscillatory components corresponding to respiratory acts (high frequency) and to vasomotor waves (low frequency) present in heart rate variability.