The Physiological Component of the BOLD Signal: Impact of Age and Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Training.

ABSTRACT: Aging is associated with declines in autonomic nervous system (ANS) function, including reduced heart rate variability (HRV), impaired neurovascular coupling, and diminished cerebrovascular responsiveness-factors that may contribute to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding how aging alters physiological signal integration in the brain is crucial for identifying potential interventions to promote brain health. This study examines age-related differences in how cardiac and respiratory fluctuations influence the blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal, using two independent resting-state fMRI datasets with concurrent physiological recordings from younger and older adults. Our findings reveal significant age-related reductions in the percent variance of the BO

SUBMITTER: Song R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12026741 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature