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July 31, 2026
What is Heart Rate Variability? There are many factors we consider when it comes to assessing our physiology and training for peak performance. In this episode, Dr. Sylvain Laborde and Dr. Emma Mosley define Heart Rate Variability and why it matters, including the science behind monitoring, influential lifestyle factors, and how we can use it to optimize training. Learn more in their recently released, co-authored book, Heart Rate Variability: Science and Strategies for Peak Performance. The book is co-authored along with Marco Altini and Dan Plews.
Heart Rate Variability: Science and Strategies for Peak Performance https://monkeylink.co/cfe12a
Sylvain Laborde, PhD
Dr. Sylvain Laborde is a renowned associate professor in sport psychology at the prestigious German Sport University Cologne, Europe's largest sports institution, where he founded the HRV-Performance Psychophysiology Lab (www.hrv-laborde.com). He holds two doctorates (in sport science and psychology) and has dedicated the past 18 years to exploring HRV and the noninvasive stimulation of the vagus nerve in athletes.
Regarded as a global authority on HRV and author of more than 150 peer-reviewed scientific research papers, Dr. Laborde has captivated audiences with his compelling insights and innovative ideas. As an awarded-winning speaker, he has shared his expertise in five languages (French, English, German, Spanish, and Italian) in numerous keynote addresses, talks, and workshops across over 20 countries, reaching Olympic committees, national coaches, and elite athletes alike. Dr. Laborde's groundbreaking Vagal Tank Theory, elaborated with his co-author Emma Mosley, translates complex research findings into practical applications for everyday life. The applications of his work focus on noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation to improve performance and self-regulation abilities of athletes using techniques such as slow-paced breathing and the diving reflex. With his approach, he has empowered countless individuals to harness the power of HRV for improve performance and well-being. His research is featured regularly on international TV, in the press, on the radio, and in podcasts.
In this book, Dr. Laborde embarks on a new mission to provide athletes, coaches, and performance seekers with the first comprehensive guide to monitoring and enhancing HRV. This groundbreaking book is a testament to his relentless pursuit of knowledge and his unwavering commitment to improving lives through the science of performance optimization.
Emma Mosley, PhD
Dr. Emma Mosley is a senior lecturer in sport and exercise psychology in the faculty of allied health and exercise sciences at Bournemouth University. Dr. Mosley holds the Accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist certification from the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES) and the Chartered Scientist credential from the Science Council. She has a doctorate in HRV and performance under pressure and has studied HRV for over a decade.
She is a leading researcher within HRV and, together with Sylvain Laborde, she has paved the way for robust HRV research within psychophysiology as well as sport and exercise psychology. Dr. Mosley has published milestone papers within this field, including a highly cited methodological paper on Vagal Tank Theory written with Sylvain Laborde, and a systematic review surrounding the use of HRV in sport and exercise psychology. Her research has evolved to explore the applied domain, and she has published multiple papers examining HRV interventions in elite athletic populations.
Dr. Mosley has worked in elite sport (e.g., Formula 3) and with the International Biathlon Union on a funded HRV project. She has also worked within the corporate sector, delivering HRV-informed breathing sessions to high-performing teams. She is deeply passionate about making HRV accessible and understandable for all.
