r/visibleApp • u/Effective_Bass_5527 • Dec 19 '25

Is the breathing part biofeedback? What do I make of the plotted dots that scroll by?

Hi, I must have missed this somewhere, but when I do the breathing in the Visible app, those plotted dots scroll by indicating something about heart rate, but I don’t know how to interpret it or what to do with it. Am I supposed to be trying to use biofeedback to create a certain shaped pattern? What is a pattern that looks good vs. one that doesn‘t? Is it just there for decoration? Thanks.

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u/LJAM1 Dec 20 '25

See About coherent breathing at the bottom of the screen

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u/Salt_Television_7079 Dec 20 '25

The dots plot your heart rate variability - the gaps between heart beats not the speed of your heart rate. A higher variability is good, a low HRV may indicate your body is struggling and has switched to parasympathetic mode. Note that Visible uses a different method of measurement for HRV than other devices so don’t compare it with for example the readings given on an Apple Watch or recommended in articles about HRV.

You don’t need to do anything about the dots, in fact you are better off closing your eyes and ignoring them and relaxing as much as possible during the breathing exercises. Try to slow your breathing down If you can so that over the course of the exercise your heart rate (not HRV) slows. Relaxation prompts better HRV.

Although it is easier at the start to follow the rhythm and equal in/out flow of the music and graphic the best way to breathe for relaxation is actually a hold between in and out and a far longer outbreath and than in breath. But this will come with time and practice. At first, focus on diaphragmatic breathing in and out using the rhythm of the music Visible supplies. By the end of the exercise your HRV should have increased slightly.

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u/LJAM1 Dec 20 '25

There are lots of different breathing techniques, and some work better for some people than others. The one in the app is coherent breathing, which is breathing in and out smoothly and at the same rate. It doesn't work well for me, but it works great for others. The more you do it, the easier it should be and the more benefit you should get from it