In this episode of the Heallist Podcast, we explore heart rate variability (HRV), what the number on your biohacking devices may reveal about your nervous system, and why it’s more useful to understand HRV in context rather than treat each daily reading as a verdict on your health. Our guest, Jane Ollis, is the founder of SONA, a neurotech company developing AI-guided vagus nerve stimulation. A biochemist by training, former NASA intern, and Oxford University Business Fellow, Jane has spent her career at the intersection of heart science, technology, and human health.
Jane breaks down how HRV can reflect stress and recovery, why factors like illness, lifestyle, and seasonal changes may influence your readings, and how the heart and nervous system communicate. We also explore the science behind vagus nerve stimulation and the emerging possibilities of bioelectronic medicine. Get practical insights on how to interpret HRV trends more thoughtfully and understand what your wearable data may be telling you about stress and recovery.
This conversation is shared for educational and reflective purposes, offering perspectives on longevity and wellness that integrate traditional practices with contemporary scientific inquiry.
Key takeaways include:
- HRV can offer insight into how the nervous system is responding to stress and recovery
- Individual trends and context can be more informative than a single HRV reading
- Illness, lifestyle, and seasonal factors may influence HRV
- The vagus nerve plays an important role in communication between the brain and body
- Bioelectronic medicine is opening new possibilities for nervous system support and health monitoring
Know more about Jane and her mission through her website.
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