A new study has mapped how different body parts communicate with each other under physiological stress, such as during exercise or sleep deprivation, which researchers say could one day help diagnose an illness earlier.

Researchers at the University of Portsmouth and University College London, UK, said the study encourages a "whole-body" view of physiology, instead of focusing on isolated measurements such as heart or breathing rate.

Using 'transfer entropy' -- a method of monitoring body signals -- a complex network of maps was created showing which body parts act as 'information hubs' under different stress conditions, the team explained.