ECG and EEG Analysis of Brain-Heart Interactions During Seizure Episodes

Seizure disorders, such as epilepsy, profoundly impact brain and autonomic nervous system function, disrupting physiological interactions between the brain and heart. This study investigates these brain-heart interactions by analyzing Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Electroencephalography (EEG) entropy during seizure and non-seizure states. Utilizing a dataset from patients with intractable seizures, key HRV parameters (e.g., SDNN, RMSSD, LF/HF ratio, etc.) and EEG entropy measures (Approximate Entropy) were compared across seizure episodes and baseline periods. Results indicate a significant reduction in HRV metrics, such as SDNN and RMSSD, during seizures, suggesting autonomic imbalance and heightened sympathetic activity. Additionally, the ECG signal exhibited a marked increase in the T/R amplitude ratio during seizures, further reflecting the heightened cardiac response and autonomic dysregulation associated with these episodes. EEG entropy analysis revealed a marked decrease in signal complexity during seizures, indicating less dynamic brain activity. The combined findings of reduced HRV increased T/R amplitude ratio and decreased EEG entropy underscore the value of these biomarkers for assessing brain-heart interaction disruptions in seizure disorders. Our results highlight the potential for HRV, T/R amplitude ratio, and EEG entropy as non-invasive clinical tools to monitor seizure activity and evaluate neurological health, paving the way for more refined diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.