Summary
Comprehensive review positions HRV as a multidimensional biomarker that reflects bidirectional brain-heart communication, with applications for predicting and monitoring conditions from cardiovascular disease to neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Methods
Review of HRV physiology, measurement, and clinical applications
Key Findings
- HRV reflects bidirectional brain-heart communication
- Useful for predicting cardiovascular, neurological, and psychiatric outcomes
- Different HRV parameters capture different aspects of autonomic function
- Integration of HRV into clinical practice growing
- Wearable technology enabling population-scale HRV monitoring
Limitations
Review paper, no new primary data
What This Means for You
HRV isn't just a heart metric—it's a window into your entire nervous system, including brain function. This explains why HRV correlates with such diverse outcomes from heart disease to depression to cognitive function. It's measuring something fundamental about how your body regulates itself.
Source
Read the original paper in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine ↗
Added to HRV Zone: 2026-01-21