Influencing the Heart Rate of Rats with Weak External Mechanical Stimulation

HSIU, H., et al.: Influencing the Heart Rate of Rats with Weak External Mechanical Stimulation. The ventricular‐arterial coupling is assumed to minimize the expenditure of cardiac energy. From the conjecture of the resonance theory, the arterial system transmits pressure waves and resonates with the heartbeat, therefore, the arterial system is similar to a mechanical resonator. Theoretically, the heart rate can be paced with weak external mechanical stimulation and corresponding blood pressure changes can be observed. A waterbed was activated to generate 0.5‐mmHg pressure vibrations as a stimulus and the rate was set to deviate 5% from the control heart rate. Among 13 studies on seven rats, the linear regression between X (stimulation frequency − control heart rate) and Y (actual changes of the heart rate) is Y = 0.992X = 0.062 (Hz) with a correlation coefficient of 0.97 (Y = X implies complete steering). The intercorrelation coefficient between the change in mean blood pressure and the heart rate was 0.79. The study showed that this weak mechanical stimulation influences the heart rate, and the blood pressure changes according to the heart rate. Cardiovascular optimization and the resonance theory may explain the way one may regulate the heart rate and the blood pressure of humans noninvasively in the future. (PACE 2003; 26[Pt. I]:36–43)