Oscillations and Rhythms in the Neural Control of the Circulation
Sponsored by the APS Neural Control & Autonomic Regulation Section

The sympathetic nervous system controlling cardiovascular function is characterized by the presence of rhythmic activity, including slow rhythms with frequencies at or below that of respiration and rapid rhythms with frequencies at or above that of the heart rate.  The goal of this Experimental Biology symposium is to provide an integrative overview of the physiological relevance and mechanisms involved in generation of the various rhythms that contribute to the neural control of the circulation.  In addition, information about the techniques used to analyze specific rhythms will be presented.  Four general topics will be covered including; the physiological relevance of rhythms in sympathetic nerve discharge, spinal components of cardiorespiratory coupling, mechanisms contributing to low frequency, very low frequency, and local components of blood pressure regulation, and the use of heart rate variability for evaluation of autonomic function in human pathophysiology and disease.