PHYSIOLOGICAL SINGULARITIES IN RESPIRATORY AND CARDIAC DYNAMICS

Chaotic nonlinear dynamics have been extensively used to analyze the c omplexities of physiological systems in health and disease. Many asser tions in this regard, however, fail on the basis of (a) mathematical a ssumptions, and (b) basic understanding of the physiology involved. Ou r preliminary research using experimental data from breathing patterns as well as electrocardiographic signals suggest that some of these dy namics can be understood as oscillators with singular points from whic h emanate multi-choice responses to excitations. Deviations in the dis tributions of responses may reflect pathology.