Citation
From mouse to whale: A universal scaling relation for the PR interval of the electrocardiogram of mammals
TL;DR
Heart rate scales as mass^-0.25
Confirms heart rate scaling as mass^-0.25 across mammals and establishes that lifetime heartbeats are approximately constant (~1.5 billion) regardless of body size. This demonstrates how metabolic scaling creates coordinated life-history patterns.
Key Findings from Noujaim & al. (2004)
- Heart rate scales as mass^-0.25
- Lifetime heartbeats approximately constant: ~1-1.5 billion across mammals
- Scaling relationship holds from mouse to whale