**12. The heart reflects neural activity: Individual stories**

A subject who volunteered for a long-term follow-up study had her EKG measured yearly under sitting and talking conditions, always on a September afternoon at approximately 3 PM. In 2006, she had a good SI and after that appeared normal in terms of mDFA. However, as can be seen in Figure 29, her SI changed dramatically over the years.

This subject did not disclose any personal issue until 2009 when she related that she experi‐ enced difficult conditions in her work place in 2007 and 2008 and wanted to relocate. In addition, she lost a loved one to illness in 2008 and left her office job at the end of 2009. Her environment improved greatly by 2010; her EKG was not measured in 2011, and she had a good SI in 2012 (data not shown).

Another subject was caring for her aging mother at home (Figure 30). The caregiver did not sleep from 28–29 September because her mother did not sleep. Consequently, the subject's SI was very low (3 PM on 29 September). However, she slept well the following two nights because her mother slept well. This subject visited my exhibition booth at Innovation Japan 2011.

**Figure 29.** EKG data from a woman aged 27 years collected in September 2006 at 3 PM and five-year follow-up results.

**Figure 30.** Sleep deprivation decreases SI. These data were collected from a woman in her 50s who was taking care of her aging mother.
