Sylvain Laborde, PhD, is a renowned senior lecturer in sport psychology at the prestigious German Sport University Cologne, Europe's largest sports institution, where he founded the HRV–Performance Psychophysiology Lab. He holds two doctorates (in sport science and in psychology) and has dedicated the past 15 years to exploring the intricacies of HRV and 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 award-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 coauthor 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 this approach, he has empowered countless individuals to harness the power of HRV for improved performance and well-being. 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.Marco Altini, PhD, MSc, is a scientist and developer mainly working at the intersection of health, technology, and performance. He holds a doctorate (cum laude) in data science, a master's degree (cum laude) in computer science engineering, and a master's degree (cum laude) in human movement sciences, with a specialization in high-performance coaching. Dr. Altini is the founder of HRV4Training, a platform he developed in 2012 that is today trusted by more than 150,000 users, including Olympic medalists and professional teams. HRV4Training uses advanced signal processing and data analytics to measure HRV and quantify stress, helping athletes of all levels to better balance training and lifestyle stressors to improve performance. Dr. Altini's blog entries and articles on various online platforms (e.g., Medium, Substack) have reached more than one million readers. He has also published more than 50 scientific papers and patents at the intersection of technology, physiology, health, and performance. He developed numerous software solutions to track and improve heart rate variability, both independently (HRV4Training, HRV4Biofeedback) and for other organizations (Oura, Strava). Dr. Altini is a guest lecturer at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and an advisor to various companies working on the use of heart rate variability for applications targeting mental and physical health. He has been a guest in countless podcasts and interviews as a leading expert and trusted authority when it comes to the measurement and use of heart rate variability. As a recreational athlete, he loves to practice what he preaches, a journey that recently brought him to break the 3-hour barrier in the marathon.Emma Mosley, PhD, 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.Dan Plews, PhD, is an accomplished applied sport scientist, researcher, and coach with an impressive record of success. He has worked closely with athletes who have won more than 30 world and Olympic titles in the sports of rowing, kayaking, and triathlon. Dr. Plews is a recognized expert in the field of HRV, having completed his doctorate in the area of applied HRV. His research focused on implementing and validating methods for the application of HRV to track training adaptation in elite athletes. His work has been published in over 60 peer-reviewed articles, with over 3,500 citations. Throughout his career, Dr. Plews has held several important roles, such as head of physical performance at Emirates Team New Zealand during the 2021 America's Cup–winning campaign and lead physiologist for Rowing New Zealand during both the London and Rio Olympic Games. He is currently leading performance physiology for Women's Canoe Racing New Zealand, where he continues to implement his research and expertise to support athletes in achieving their goals. Dr. Plews' passion for triathlons is evident as he continues to excel as both an athlete and a coach. He coached Chelsea Sodaro to victory in the 2022 Ironman World Championships and broke the amateur course record at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, in 2018, finishing in 8 hours and 24 minutes. In October 2023, he was the overall winner and set the fastest finishing time for an age-group athlete in the full-distance Ironman California triathlon, completing the course in 7:56:56. Dr. Plews' achievements and dedication to sport science and exercise physiology are a true inspiration to athletes and sports enthusiasts around the world.
