Correlation between Heart Rate Variability and Claustrum Stimulation – Hypothesis, Experimental Studies and Future Perspectives

Heart rate variability (HRV) has long been associated with cardiovascular risk, especially after a myocardial infarction, but also in general. HRV reflects and is used as a surrogate for the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic systems in modulating the cardiovascular activity. A low HRV, traditionally associated to sympathovagal imbalance, is associated with a worse cardiovascular prognosis. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical technique used for severe cases of Parkinson's disease and other neurologic pathologies. DBS is performed in various areas of the brain and through different protocols. The claustrum, an area located between the external capsule and the insular cortex, was recently shown to be connected to Parkinson's motor symptoms. As DBS in other regions of the brain has proven non-motor effects, like influencing the HRV, we sought to document the effect of claustrum stimulation on the sympatho-vagal balance (SVB). Our preliminary data indicates that claustrum stimulation inclines the SVB toward the latter, but more studies are required to observe the long-term effects of this type of stimulation.