In this study, we investigated the central-cardiorespiratory network (CCRN) applying linear and nonlinear causal coupling approaches (normalized short time partial directed coherence, multivariate transfer entropy) in 21 healthy subjects (mean age 37 years). From all participants, continuous heart rate (successive beat-to-beat intervals, BBI), synchronized calibrated respiratory inductive plethysmography signal (respiratory frequency, RESP), and the mean power PEEG from a 64-channel EEG (in relation to each RR-interval) were recorded for 15 minutes under resting conditions. We could show that the central-cardiorespiratory coupling is a bidirectional one, with central driving mechanisms towards BBI (PEEG→BBI), and respiratory driving towards PEEG (RESP→PEEG). The linear influence from PEEG to BBI was much stronger than BBI to PEEG, whereas the linear influence from RESP to PEEG was much stronger than PEEG to RESP. The nonlinear influences from BBI and RESP to PEEG as well as from PEEG to BBI and RESP were of almost identical size. The central-cardiac (PEEG˗BBI) and central-respiratory coupling (PEEG˗RESP) seem to be stronger pronounced when analyzed by the linear method than the nonlinear one. Particularly the central nerve system controls stronger the cardiac and less the respiratory system. This suggests that central-cardiorespiratory regulation processes (closed-loops) mainly focusing on adapting the heart rate via the sinoatrial node, than focusing on central influence of respiration on vagal cardiac motoneurons. We found a complex CCRN structure in healthy subjects expressed by a strong central influence on the cardiac system, and on the other hand by a strong respiratory influence on the central nervous system, respectively. This provides a further step towards a more comprehensive understanding of the interplay of neuronal and autonomic regulatory processes in healthy subjects and might be the basis for an early identification of central and/or autonomic impairments.