{
  "abstract": "Background: While Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is a cornerstone of non-invasive autonomic assessment, the sensitivity and sustainability of specific HRV parameters remain debated. This study introduces a \"sustainability score\" to systematically validate which metrics best reflect autonomic nervous system (ANS) modulation following pharmacological blockade. Methods: Ten male Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with ECG electrodes. After recovery, rats underwent randomized atropine (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) and propranolol (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) sessions separated by at least 3 days. Baseline ECG was recorded for 30 min before each session, followed by 90-min post-drug ECG recording. HRV parameters were analyzed in sequential 15-min and 30-min segments. Reliability was assessed using average p-values across post-drug segments and a sustainability score, defined as the number of segments significantly different from baseline. Results: After atropine, HF Power showed the strongest rapid parasympathetic-related response in 15-min segments, with the lowest average p-value (0.1476) and highest sustainability score (4), followed by RSA (p=0.16148; score=4). HFn was less reliable in 15-min segments (p=0.23147; score=2) but became the most reliable parasympathetic-related metric in 30-min segments (p=0.0001; score=3). After propranolol, SI was the most reliable sympathetic-related metric in both 15-min (p=0.18225; score=2) and 30-min segments (p=0.0393; score=2), while SD2/SD1 showed the strongest 30-min sympathovagal-balance response (p=0.0200; score=3). Conclusion: HF Power is recommended for rapid parasympathetic-related assessment in short windows, HFn for longer-window parasympathetic assessment, SI for sympathetic-assessment, and SD2/SD1 for 30-min sympathovagal-balance analysis. Sustainability scoring provides a structured framework for selecting ECG-derived autonomic markers.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "University of Michigan"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "M. K. Ali"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. Ji"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. Long"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. Gong"
    },
    {
      "name": "J. D. Chen"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/eg31fh044ezdm.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.04.748642",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.04.748642v1.full",
  "id": "eg31fh044ezdm",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.04.748642v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "pharmacology and toxicology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2705|Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7212021922",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.04.748642v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-04",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/eg31fh044ezdm.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:39Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.04.748642",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.04.748642v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "biorxiv:pharmacology and toxicology",
      "subfield": "pharmacology-toxicology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "A Temporal Reliability and Sustainability Score Framework for Ranking Heart Rate Variability Metrics During Pharmacological Autonomic Blockade in Rats",
  "title_text": "A Temporal Reliability and Sustainability Score Framework for Ranking Heart Rate Variability Metrics During Pharmacological Autonomic Blockade in Rats",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:20:39Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/eg31fh044ezdm",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}