Nature Reviews Cardiology, Published online: 06 May 2025; doi:10.1038/s41569-025-01160-zThe physiological phenomenon whereby heart rate varies in phase with breathing in vertebrates has been known as ‘respiratory sinus arrhythmia’. In this Expert Recommendation, the authors argue that this terminology is potentially misleading and propose replacing it with the term ‘respiratory heart rate variability’, which avoids pathological connotations.

The physiological phenomenon whereby heart rate varies in phase with breathing in vertebrates has been known as ‘respiratory sinus arrhythmia’. In this Expert Recommendation, the authors argue that th...