An Instantaneous Estimation of Transfer Entropy using Point-Process Models with Application to Cardio-Respiratory Dynamics

Nonlinear physiological systems are characterized by complex interactions among multiple sub-system variables, whose dynamics show peculiar nonlinear coupling properties. To this extent, transfer entropy [1] is a mathematical construct devised to measure the nonlinear directional amount of information transfer from one physiological variable to the other. Transfer entropy measures derived from heart rate variability (HRV) analysis have been proven to be effective indicators of baroreflex functions and of aging-related changes, involving also respiratory dynamics, at different frequency bands.