Heart Rate Variability (HRV)

Heart rate variability (HRV) is the physiological phenomenon of variation in the time interval between heartbeats. It is measured by the variation in the beat-to-beat interval, a known indicator of central nervous system balance. The main inputs are the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) and humoral factors. A wide range of low to high blood pressure is high HRV and indicative of a flexible nervous system. And unresponsive heart rate, low HRV, has been correlated to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), cardiovascular ailments, diabetes, and other conditions. HRV biofeedback training is best achieved with a personalized breathing pattern leading to physiological balancing and is associated with a large reduction in self-reported stress.

The goal of the HRV biofeedback training is to achieve coherence - a consistent rhythmic heart rate pattern associated with a high functioning PSNS. This relaxed state will help you relax and improve your brain’s responsiveness to neurofeedback.