Autonomic Physiology
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is your body's master regulator, controlling heart rate, digestion, breathing, and countless other involuntary functions. Understanding how it works is key to interpreting HRV data.
Articles
Why Understanding the ANS Matters
Heart rate variability is fundamentally a window into autonomic nervous system function. Every HRV metric—from RMSSD to spectral analysis—reflects the interplay between your sympathetic and parasympathetic branches.
By understanding autonomic physiology, you can better interpret HRV data, explain findings to clients in meaningful terms, and design interventions that target specific physiological mechanisms.
Each article offers three depth levels—Simple for client communication, Technical for clinical practice, and Expert for research context.