We studied the properties of low-frequency (LF) heart rate variability (HRV) and photoplethysmographic waveform variability (PPGV) and their interaction under conditions where the hemodynamic connection between them is obviously absent, as well as the LF regulation of PPGV in the absence of heart function. The parameters of HRV and finger PPGV were evaluated in 10 patients during cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (on-pump cardiac surgery) with or without cardioplegia. The following spectral indices of PPGV and HRV were ertimated: the total spectral power (TP), the highfrequency (HF) and the LF ranges of TP in percents (HF% and LF%), and the LF/HF ratio. We assessed also the index S of synchronization between the LF oscillations in finger photoplethysmogram (PPG) and heart rate (HR) signals. the analysis of directional couplings was carried out using the methods of phase dynamics modeling. it is shown that the mechanisms leading to the occurrence of oscillations in the LF range of PPGV are independent of the mechanisms causing oscillations in the LF range of HRV. At the same time, the both above-mentioned LF oscillations retain their activity under conditions of artificial blood circulation and cardioplegia (the latter case applies only to LF oscillations in PPG). In artificial blood circulation, there was a coupling from the LF oscillations in PPG to those in HR, whereas the coupling in the opposite direction was absent. the coupling from the Lf oscillations in ppG to those in HR has probably a neurogenic nature, whereas the opposite coupling has a hemodynamic nature (due to cardiac output).Despite the relatively widespread use of photoplethysmography to assess the state of peripheral blood flow 1,2 , the question of the physiological interpretation of the frequency components of photoplethysmographic waveform variability (PPGV) remains largely debatable. Usually, the nature of high-frequency (HF) oscillations in photoplethysmogram (PPG) signal is explained by the mechanical effect of respiration 3-5 , while the low-frequency (LF) oscillations (with a characteristic frequency of about 0.1 Hz) in PPG are associated with sympathetic regulation of peripheral vascular resistance 3,6,7 . It should be noted that besides the PPG, the LF fluctuations at a similar frequency are detected also in the signals of heart rate (HR) 8,9 and blood pressure (BP) 10,11 . Blood pressure variability (BPV) is primarily due to the vasomotor tone, which is not directly related to the heart control. Since blood flow through the distal arteries contributes to the formation of the finger PPG 12 , the autonomic regulation of BP can be indirectly assessed by the PPG signal.