CardioBrain: A Novel User-Friendly Software for Assessing Dynamic Cerebral Autoregulation and Cardiovascular Interactions

Cerebral autoregulation (CA) is a critical mechanism that maintains cerebral blood flow (CBF) relatively stable despite fluctuations in arterial blood pressure (ABP), ensuring protection against ischemia and hyperperfusion. Alterations in CA are linked to adverse outcomes in various conditions, highlighting the need for precise and accessible methods to analyse CA. CardioBrain is a freely available user-friendly software developed to assess dynamic CA by performing Transfer Function Analysis (TFA) on continuously recorded ABP and CBF data. The software utilizes the Welch method for spectral density and cross-spectral analysis. Following TFA, the software calculates different dCA metrics as gain, phase, and coherence across various frequency bands (VLF, LF, HF). CardioBrain allows users to easily manipulate signal processing parameters, visualize data, and export results, making it suitable for both research and clinical settings without requiring advanced programming skills. Additionally, the software includes tools to address signal misalignments, such as a temporal shift feature, and ensures adherence to recommended standards for TFA analysis. Future development will focus on incorporating user feedback, validating the software against simulated and real-world data, and expanding its functionality for a broader range of regulatory analyses.