1/f noise outperforms white noise in sensitizing baroreflex function in the human brain

Phys Rev Lett. 2003 Aug 15;91(7):078101. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.91.078101. Epub 2003 Aug 11.

Abstract

We show that externally added 1/f noise more effectively sensitizes the baroreflex centers in the human brain than white noise. We examined the compensatory heart rate response to a weak periodic signal introduced via venous blood pressure receptors while adding 1/f or white noise with the same variance to the brain stem through bilateral cutaneous stimulation of the vestibular afferents. In both cases, this noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation optimized covariance between the weak input signals and the heart rate responses. However, the optimal level with 1/f noise was significantly lower than with white noise, suggesting a functional benefit of 1/f noise for neuronal information transfer in the brain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Baroreflex / physiology*
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Electrocardiography
  • Heart Rate / physiology
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Noise*