When I started at Victoria University, I was going to be a computer scientist, and when Julian Thayer went to Boston's noted Berklee College of Music, he was going to be a jazz bassist. Both of us ended up in psychology, or in Thayer's case psychophysiology, but he's both rather more famous than me and an accomplished bass player.
Psychophysiology is the study of the intersection of psychological and physiological phenomena. In particular, Thayer is a world authority on heart rate variability. In Thayer's words, "When you inhale, your heart rate increases, and when you exhale it decreases... and, contrary to what you might believe, your heartbeat is not regular. And the more variability, in some ways, the better."
When you stand up, your heart rate variability goes down, to make sure blood gets to your brain, for example. The time between beats is not perfectly regular, and that is often a good thing.
So far, so technical, but this is seriously important. If you have lower heart rate variability, your chance of survival is lower, says Thayer, because your body is less able to adapt to what you need in the moment.
This story is from the April 15-21 2023 edition of New Zealand Listener.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 15-21 2023 edition of New Zealand Listener.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The rest is history
Rest - both sleep and non-sleep - is essential to help our overstressed bodies and minds repair themselves. But many of us remain in a constant state of 'fight, flight or freeze'.
Right and power
Israel is profiting financially and extending its global technological influence in response to the October 7 massacre, says investigative journalist Antony Loewenstein.
Dolphins be damned
Is SailGP's future in this country really under threat because of an at-risk marine mammal?
Orwellian irony
Our thinking about one of the 20th century's best-known writers is being challenged by the 'smelly little truths' Anna Funder uncovered about George Orwell's marriage.
The alchemist
Talent and a little magic have taken state-house kid Moses Mackay to the heights of Italian opera. He's coming back to sprinkle some of his gold dust around.
Good Lord, he was scandalous
Lord Byron still fascinates 200 years after his death, but more for his bohemian lifestyle than his poetry.
Stars in their eyes
Debut novel a heady mix of grief, astronomy and love.
Dark matter
Ngaio Marsh-style whodunnit set among academia attached to the Mt John Observatory.
Mirren's mirror on Meir
Dame Helen talks about playing Golda Meir, Israel's iron lady, during a pivotal chapter in the controversial politician's long career.
Game, set and match
Love, sex and great tennis take centre court in this highly charged drama.