UDC

612.172.2(045)

DOI

https://doi.org/10.37482/2687-1491-Z287

Authors

Boris Yu. Mikhaylenko* ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4983-9218
Mikhail N. Pankov** ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3293-5751
*Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov (Arkhangelsk, Russia)
**Northern State Medical University (Arkhangelsk, Russia)
Corresponding author: Boris Mikhaylenko, address: nab. Severnoy Dviny 17, Arkhangelsk, 163001, Russia; e-mail: borisstarkov06@gmail.com

Abstract

This review systematizes contemporary concepts of heart rate variability (HRV) as an non-invasive marker of neurovisceral integration and human adaptive potential. The authors consider the main methods of HRV analysis (temporal, frequency, and non-linear) and its ontogenetic dynamics, including a peak in young adulthood and progressive decline with aging, as well as individual differences (gender, genetic). Special attention is paid to the role of HRV in assessing the functional state of the human body, stress resistance, and cognitive performance, as well as the association of HRV with the risk of cardiovascular events. Within the framework of the neurovisceral integration model, which links the activity of the central autonomic network (particularly the ventromedial prefrontal cortex) with autonomic balance, the significance of HRV for predicting longevity and maintaining health is discussed. It is emphasized that high HRV values, especially among long-livers, correlate with better preservation of regulatory systems. The review also highlights practical aspects of using HRV monitoring for the objective, real-time assessment of mental strain and cognitive load, including in professional groups (e.g., healthcare workers and athletes). Methodological aspects of interpreting HRV indices, the necessity of accounting for confounding factors (heart rate, heart rhythm fragmentation), and the prospects of using new integral indices and non-linear methods to improve diagnostic sensitivity are examined. It is concluded that HRV is a powerful tool for the comprehensive assessment of adaptive reserve, integrating indicators of autonomic balance, central regulation, and psychophysiological state, which paves the way for its integration into preventive and clinical medicine.

For citation: Mikhaylenko B.Yu., Pankov M.N. Heart Rate Variability: Individual Differences, Role in Neurovisceral Integration and Assessment of Human Adaptive Potential (Review). Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 2026, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 91–105. DOI: 10.37482/2687-1491-Z287

Keywords

heart rate variability, neurovisceral integration, adaptive potential of the body, stress resistance, sympathovagal balance, central autonomic network

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