Noise and fluctuations in human physiology: Anomalous statistics in health and diseases

Abstract

Complex dynamics of two physiological signals, heart rate and physical activity, are introduced. Both are characterized by robust and anomalous (long-range correlated, non-Gaussian and/or non-Poisson) statistics, which break down in cases of neuro-cardiologic diseases and clinical depression, respectively. These signals, easily obtained continuously in everyday life, may serve as the “benchmark” of choice for studies of biological complexity and clinical (m-health) applications.