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BCIA Continuing Education Posts
The BioSource Faculty Explain Peer-Reviewed Science


A Comprehensive Breathing Myths Guide
Breathing ensures healthy CO2 levels. The main functions of breathing are gas exchange and acid-base (pH) regulation.
BioSource Faculty
Jan 725 min read
657 views
1 comment

5-Min Science: Do Longer Exhalations Increase HRV During Slow-Paced Breathing?
The research explores whether a longer exhale boosts heart rate variability.
BioSource Faculty
Dec 22, 20243 min read
17 views
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The Vagus Nerve's Role in Heart Rate Variability
Vagal activity and parasympathetic nervous system function produce respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and heart rate variability (HRV).
BioSource Faculty
Sep 24, 202414 min read
296 views
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A Comprehensive Guide to HRV Myths
This review addresses 14 misconceptions regarding cardiovascular health, HRV measurement, and HRV biofeedback training.
BioSource Faculty
Aug 7, 202423 min read
284 views
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Upgrade Your HRV Biofeedback System
If you don’t correct dysfunctional breathing patterns like overbreathing, they can compromise the effectiveness of HRVB training.
BioSource Faculty
Jun 15, 20244 min read
243 views
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Provide Slow-Paced Contraction Training Using the Optimal HRV Application
Slow-paced contraction (SPC)Â increases heart rate variability (HRV) as effectively as slow-paced breathing (SPB).
BioSource Faculty
May 26, 20247 min read
184 views
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Do longer exhalations increase HRV during slow-paced breathing?
Download our open-access Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback inhalation-to-exhalation ratio article.
Fred Shaffer
Mar 24, 20241 min read
156 views
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BCIA Essential Skills: Blood Volume Pulse
Blood volume pulse (BVP) is an indispensable tool for evaluating and training clients for chronic pain, hypertension, and performance.
BioSource Faculty
Aug 27, 202313 min read
267 views
0 comments


Four Heart Rate Variability Myths
Four HRV myths are Heart Rate Variability Is Bad, Stability Is Good, The Sympathetic Nervous System Plays a Major Role in Short-Term HRV,...
BioSource Faculty
Jun 18, 202312 min read
718 views
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Rethinking the Resonance Frequency (RF) - Part 2: Slow-Paced Breathing
Resonance frequency (RF) assessment identifies the stimulation frequency producing the greatest amplitude heart rate oscillations in one...
BioSource Faculty
Dec 3, 202212 min read
596 views
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A Guide to Selecting HRV Norms
Measurement context and client characteristics are crucial to interpreting HRV time- and frequency-domain measurements. In this post, we...
BioSource Faculty
Nov 15, 202215 min read
889 views
1 comment


HRV Time-Domain Measurements for Smart People
HRV Time-Domain Measurements for Smart People describes these measurements, caveats, and practical applications.
BioSource Faculty
Oct 22, 202213 min read
459 views
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Slow-Paced Contraction Increases HRV
Slow-paced contraction to increase heart rate variability
Fred Shaffer
Jul 31, 20226 min read
524 views
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Low-Frequency Power and Coherence Index HRV Biofeedback Training Success
The low-frequency (LF) band (0.04-0.15 Hz) is affected by breathing from ~3-9 bpm (Task Force, 1996). The baroreflex system’s resonance...
Fred Shaffer
Jul 28, 20223 min read
268 views
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When Should You Not Use PPG Sensors to Measure HRV?
The electrocardiograph (ECG) and photoplethysmograph (PPG) are two methods of detecting heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV)....
Fred Shaffer
Jul 27, 20222 min read
53 views
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How HRV Biofeedback Increases RSA
Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) is the speeding and slowing of the heart across each breathing cycle. RSA is the primary and entirely...
Fred Shaffer
Jul 26, 20221 min read
74 views
0 comments


Faster Heart Rates Lower HRV and Increase Dementia Risk
Heart rate (HR) is important because a high rate can reduce heart rate variability (HRV), the changes in the time intervals between...
Fred Shaffer
Jul 26, 20222 min read
35 views
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