Advanced Physiological Signals Processing Lab
About the Lab
The Advanced Physiological Signals Processing Lab (APSL), led by Rathinaswamy Govindan, PhD, develops quantitative tools to process continuous physiological signals into useful clinical information in critically ill infants, fetuses and neonates.
We combine high-quality signal acquisition, rigorous artifact management, automated analysis pipelines and multimodal data integration to investigate physiological patterns and developmental trajectories in heart rate variability, brain connectivity, cerebral autoregulation and circadian and sleep-state physiology.
By identifying patterns across these signals, we aim to better understand neurological development and maturation. Real-time characterization of these signals may enable the early detection of precursors to adverse events, informing clinical decision-making and improving outcomes for critically ill infants.
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Lab Focus Areas
Neonatal Brain Injury
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
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Partnerships
Developing Brain Institute
Zickler Family Prenatal Pediatrics Institute
George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Inova Fairfax / Fairfax Neonatal Associates
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Contact
Rathinaswamy (RB) Govindan, PhD, MS Principal Investigator [email protected]
Featured Publications
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Quantitative measures of autonomic cardiorespiratory maturation in preterm infants are associated with brain volumes at term age
Ngwa J; Andescavage NN; Basu S; Ottolini K; Kapse K; Murnick J; Limperopoulos C; du Plessis A; Govindan RB PMID: 41886974 Early Human Development 218:106542 Jul 2026 -
The developing relationship between circadian rhythm and heart rate variability in premature infants
Govindan RB; Andescavage NN; Basu S; Murnick J; Ngwa J; Limperopoulos C; du Plessis AJ PMID: 42201482 Clinical Autonomic Research May 27, 2026 -
Heart rate variability is associated with self-regulation and stress neurobehavior in preterm infants
Donnellan EL; Govindan RB; Ngwa J; Andescavage N; Limperopoulos C; du Plessis AJ PMID: 41038151 Early Human Development 211:106406 Oct 2025 -
Preoperative autonomic failure in neonates with critical congenital heart disease
Govindan RB; Pezzato S; Ngwa J; Krishnan A; Panagopoulos E; Chirumamilla VC; du Plessis A PMID: 39613503 Early Human Development 200:106165 2025 (ePub Nov 30, 2024) -
Functional brain network properties of healthy full-term newborns quantified by scalp and source-reconstructed EEG
Chirumamilla VC, Hitchings L, Mulkey SB, Anwar T, Baker R, Larry Maxwell G, De Asis-Cruz J, Kapse K, Limperopoulos C, du Plessis A, Govindan RB PMID: 36731349 Clinical Neurophysiology 147: 72–80 Mar 2023