HRV Myths: A Healthy Heart Resembles a Metronome

When the time intervals between heartbeats significantly change across successive breathing cycles, this shows that the cardiovascular center can effectively modulate vagal tone. "The complexity of a healthy heart rhythm is critical to the maintenance of homeostasis because it provides the flexibility to cope with an uncertain and changing environment...HRV metrics are important because they are associated with regulatory capacity, health, and performance and can predict morbidity and mortality" (Shaffer, Meehan, & Zerr, 2020).

This Real Genius episode draws heavily on Zachary Meehan's growing writing on HRV. It was illustrated by Dani S@unclebelang and written by Fred Shaffer and Zachary Meehan. BioSource releases one new WEBTOON episode weekly to support science literacy. If you like this, please check out our growing collection. If you are fond of dogs, cats, and squirrels, enjoy our Cooperville series. We missed Bloom County and Calvin & Hobbes and wanted to provide a safe space of gentle humor and innocent fun.

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BCIA Clinical Update Series, Add Slow-Paced Contraction to Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback, January 26, 2024, 11am Pacific, Noon Mountain, 1pm Central, 2pm Eastern. Presented by Fred Shaffer PhD, BCB, BCB-HRV. Matt Bennett, Optimal HRV Co-Founder, recently interviewed me about HRV time-domain measurements. This podcast is available at https://youtu.be/bWQ1EBfOvHU?si=FEqdqbcemATLWkjC or wherever you listen to your podcasts.