Sensitive Hearts: Sensory Processing Sensitivity and Heart Rate Variability
16th July 2026 - By Jordan Kenemore, Grant Benham, Angela Martinez
About the authors
Jordan Kenemore is a clinical psychology doctoral candidate at the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley. Her research focuses on physiological measures of stress reactivity and recovery in female populations. She is particularly interested in how sensory processing sensitivity influences the experience of stress and its implications for health.
Dr. Grant Benham is a Professor of Health Psychology at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. His research focuses on the health consequences of stress and inadequate sleep, as well as the role of individual differences—such as sensory processing sensitivity—in shaping these outcomes.
Angela Martinez earned her Bachelor’s of Science from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and is currently a Research Assistant at the University of Pittsburgh. Her work centers on developmental neuroscience and mental health, with emerging interests in how physiological factors relate to overall well-being.
Summary
Higher sensitivity is often linked to emotional challenges, but it may also have physiological consequences. This study found that individuals with greater sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) show lower heart rate variability (HRV), a key indicator of health and self-regulation.
Exploring the physiological cost of sensitivity
People who are highly sensitive often describe feeling emotionally reactive or easily overwhelmed. But could that sensitivity also affect their body’s ability to regulate itself? In our study (1), we investigated the physiological basis of sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) by looking at its relationship to heart rate variability (HRV), an indicator of how well the nervous system can adapt to changing demands.
HRV is widely recognized as a marker of autonomic nervous system function, reflecting how well the body maintains physiological balance through dynamic shifts in sympathetic and parasympathetic activity.
According to neurovisceral integration (NVI) theory, higher HRV reflects more adaptive self-regulation, involving integrated activity across brain regions, such as the prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate, which support goal-directed behaviour and emotion regulation (2).
Conversely, lower HRV has been associated with diminished self-regulatory capacity and increased vulnerability to stress-related conditions such as anxiety and cardiovascular disease. While SPS has been widely studied through self-report measures—linking it to outcomes such as emotional reactivity, anxiety, and well-being— research specifically linking sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) to objective physiological outcomes like HRV remains limited (3, 4). Our study begins to fill this gap by linking SPS to autonomic regulation.
Our study: Sensitivity and HRV at rest
We collected data from 185 young adult women who completed the Highly Sensitive Person scale and then underwent a three-minute resting electrocardiogram (ECG). This allowed us to capture both time-domain (RMSSD) and frequency-domain (HF-HRV) measures of HRV. Importantly, we controlled for respiration rate—a key factor influencing HRV measurements.
We also examined the structure of the SPS scale using exploratory factor analysis and tested whether specific aspects of sensitivity—such as Ease of Excitation and Low Sensory Threshold were independently associated with HRV.
What we found: Higher sensitivity, lower flexibility
Our results were consistent and clear: higher SPS scores were significantly associated with lower HRV, even after controlling for breathing rate. In other words, highly sensitive individuals tended to show reduced autonomic flexibility at rest (1).
We also found that the two dominant SPS factors—Ease of Excitation and Low Sensory Threshold—were both negatively associated with HRV, though somewhat less strongly than the overall SPS score. This suggests that the general tendency toward deep processing and emotional sensitivity, rather than just one aspect of it, may influence physiological regulation.
Why this matters: Sensitivity and physical health
This study builds on prior work suggesting that SPS is not just an emotional or psychological trait, but one that may have biological correlates with implications for physical health. Previous research has linked SPS to more frequent physical complaints and stress-related symptoms (3, 4). By showing a link with HRV, we provide a more objective marker of why this might be the case.
Low HRV has been associated with poorer health outcomes across a wide range of domains—from cardiovascular health to emotional regulation. If highly sensitive individuals are predisposed to lower HRV, they may face greater physiological costs in high-demand environments, even if their outward behaviour appears calm.
Supporting sensitive individuals
The good news is that HRV is modifiable. Interventions like HRV biofeedback and mindfulness-based stress reduction have been shown to improve autonomic flexibility (5). These approaches may be especially beneficial for individuals high in SPS, helping to buffer against the physiological stress that can accompany their heightened sensitivity.
Future research should examine whether these interventions work differently for sensitive individuals, and whether environmental factors—such as social support or exposure to nature—moderate the SPS-HRV relationship.
By deepening our understanding of the biological dimensions of sensitivity, we can better support those who feel the world more deeply—not just emotionally, but physically too.
References
- Kenemore, J., Benham, G., & Martinez, A. (2025). Higher sensory processing sensitivity is associated with reduced vagally-mediated heart rate variability. Personality and Individual Differences, 246, 113284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2025.113284
- Thayer, J. F., Åhs, F., Fredrikson, M., Sollers III, J. J., & Wager, T. D. (2012). A meta-analysis of heart rate variability and neuroimaging studies: implications for heart rate variability as a marker of stress and health. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 36(2), 747–756. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2011.11.009
- Aron, E. N., & Aron, A. (1997). Sensory-processing sensitivity and its relation to introversion and emotionality. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73(2), 345–368. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.73.2.345
- Benham, G. (2006). The highly sensitive person: Stress and physical symptom reports. Personality and Individual Differences, 40(7), 1433–1440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2005.11.021
- Lehrer, P., et al. (2020). Heart rate variability biofeedback improves emotional and physical health and performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 45(3), 109–130. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-020-09466-z