Amy Isabella Sentis

1 INTRODUCTION Resting heart rate (HR) is not only a predictor of all-cause mortality, but is also a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in individuals with and without preexisting cardiovascular disease (CVD; [Böhm et al., 2015; Fox et al., 2007; Palatini, 2007; Perret-Guillaume et al., 2009]).

Abstract Resting heart rate may confer risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and other adverse cardiovascular events. While the brainstem's autonomic control over heart rate is well established, less is known about the regulatory role of higher-level cortical and subcortical brain regions, especially in humans. The present study sought to characterize the brain networks that predict variation in prevailing heart rate in otherwise healthy adults.