Heart Rate Variability

Sylvain Laborde, PhD

Sylvain Laborde is a senior lecturer in sport psychology at the German Sport University Cologne, where he founded the HRV–Performance Psychophysiology Lab. He holds doctorates in sport science and psychology and has spent 15 years researching Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and the vagus nerve in athletes.

Considered a global authority on HRV, Dr. Laborde has authored over 150 peer-reviewed scientific papers. He is an award-winning speaker, fluent in five languages, and has presented his work in over 20 countries to Olympic committees, national coaches, and elite athletes. His vagal tank theory, developed with Emma Mosley, offers practical applications for improving athletic performance and self-regulation through noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation techniques like slow-paced breathing and the diving reflex.

Marco Altini, PhD, MSc

Marco Altini is a scientist and developer working at the intersection of health, technology, and performance. He holds doctorates and master’s degrees in data science, computer science engineering, and human movement sciences with a specialization in high-performance coaching.

Dr. Altini founded HRV4Training in 2012, a platform used by over 150,000 individuals, including Olympic medalists and professional teams. HRV4Training utilizes advanced analytics to measure HRV and quantify stress, aiding athletes in balancing training and lifestyle for improved performance.

His blog posts and articles have reached over a million readers, and he has published more than 50 scientific papers and patents. Dr. Altini has developed numerous HRV tracking and improvement software solutions, including HRV4Training and HRV4Biofeedback. He is a guest lecturer at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and an advisor to companies focused on HRV applications for mental and physical health. As a recreational athlete, he has achieved a sub-3-hour marathon.

Emma Mosley, PhD

Emma Mosley is a senior lecturer in sport and exercise psychology at Bournemouth University. She holds the Accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist certification and the Chartered Scientist credential. Her doctorate focused on HRV and performance under pressure, and she has studied HRV for over a decade.

Dr. Mosley is a leading researcher in HRV, contributing significantly to psychophysiology and sport and exercise psychology. She co-authored a key paper on vagal tank theory with Sylvain Laborde and a systematic review on HRV in sport and exercise psychology. Her research also explores applied domains, including HRV interventions in elite athletic populations.

She has experience in elite sport, including Formula 3 and the International Biathlon Union, and has delivered HRV-informed breathing sessions to corporate teams. Dr. Mosley is dedicated to making HRV accessible and understandable.

Dan Plews, PhD

Dan Plews is an applied sport scientist, researcher, and coach with a track record of success, having worked with athletes who have won over 30 world and Olympic titles in rowing, kayaking, and triathlon.

Dr. Plews is an expert in HRV, holding a doctorate in applied HRV research focused on tracking training adaptation in elite athletes. His work has been published in over 60 peer-reviewed articles, accumulating over 3,500 citations.

His career includes roles such as head of physical performance for Emirates Team New Zealand’s America’s Cup victory and lead physiologist for Rowing New Zealand during the London and Rio Olympic Games. He currently leads performance physiology for Women’s Canoe Racing New Zealand.

As a triathlete, Dr. Plews coached Chelsea Sodaro to victory at the 2022 Ironman World Championships and set a personal best of 8:24 at the Ironman World Championships in Kona in 2018. In 2023, he won the Ironman California triathlon with a time of 7:56:56, setting the fastest age-group finishing time.