Assessing Complexity in Physiological Systems Through Biomedical Signals Analysis II

Physical systems are widely characterized in terms of their complex dynamics in physiology and medicine to understand the ability of a living system to adapt to exter nal perturbations. Complex dynamics are typical of systems characterized by physical structures with fractal geometry and nonlinear components, often composed of numer ous interdependent elements that self-organize, interacting at different hierarchical levels and time scales. This allows homeostasis to be maintained even in the presence of exter nal perturbations and interactions with other physiological systems, through neural and humoral networks.