After every scan you get a set of readings. Here's how they fit together, and what each vital sign means.
Two layers: keep it simple or go deep
At the top of your results is your headline read for right now: your Nervous System State. Below it sit your Nervous System Balance (open it to see your Short and Long Term Battery) and your Decision Capacity. These are the readings IMIN works out for you, and the ones you actually act on.
Further down you'll see two of the vital signs the scan measured directly: Pulse Rate (your heart rate, in BPM) and HRV (heart rate variability). For the full set of vital signs behind everything, tap the GO DEEPER button.
Your vital signs are the raw measurements. IMIN's own calculations turn them into the readings up top, so the numbers are the inputs, and your State, Balance, Decision Capacity, and Battery are what they add up to for you right now.
What your readings mean
Nervous System State
Your nervous system state is the big-picture name for where your body is right now, pulled together from everything the scan measured. There are lots of possible states, and none of them are good or bad. It's simply where you are in this moment, and it can shift through the day depending on what you're dealing with.
Nervous System Balance
Nervous system balance shows whether your body is leaning more toward action or toward rest right now.
Short Term Battery:
Your short term battery shows how much capacity your nervous system has available right now for moving toward balance and regulation. Think of it like the charge level on your phone—when it's high, you have plenty of energy to shift into the state you need, whether that's calm focus, active engagement, or peaceful rest.
When your short term battery is full, your nervous system can easily access the energy needed to regulate itself in the moment. This means you can respond to stress without getting overwhelmed, focus when you need to concentrate, and relax when it's time to unwind. A strong short term battery gives you resilience for handling whatever comes up today.
Your short term battery activates after your first 3 scans.
Long Term Battery
Your long term battery reflects your nervous system's deeper reserves—the foundational capacity that supports your overall ability to stay regulated and resilient over time. Unlike your short term battery which shows what's available right now, this measures the underlying strength and sustainability of your nervous system.
A strong long term battery means your nervous system has built up robust reserves through consistent rest, good habits, and recovery practices. This deeper capacity helps you bounce back from challenges, maintain energy throughout demanding periods, and avoid burnout. When your long term battery is well-maintained, it continuously supports and replenishes your short term capacity, creating a stable foundation for lasting wellbeing.
Your long term battery activates after your first 7 scans.
Decision Capacity
Decision capacity is how many decisions your brain can handle right now. Your brain's ability to make choices changes depending on how you're feeling. When your body is stressed or tired, you can only deal with small, simple choices, but when you're feeling calm and focused, you can tackle big, tricky problems. Knowing this helps you figure out if today is a good day to work on something hard, or if you should just stick to your normal easy tasks.
What each vital sign means
When you tap the GO DEEPER button, you'll see these vital signs:
LF/HF: The ratio between your body's "fight or flight" activation and your "rest and digest" response, showing which side of your nervous system is more dominant right now.
PRQ: The relationship between your heart rate and breathing rate, which reflects how well your cardiovascular and respiratory systems are synchronized.
Mean RRI: The average time gap in milliseconds between each heartbeat, where longer intervals indicate a slower, more relaxed heart rhythm.
RMSSD: A measurement of how much variation exists between consecutive heartbeats, which is one of the best indicators of your body's ability to self regulate and recover.
SD1: A measure of rapid, moment to moment heartbeat changes that reflects how actively your parasympathetic "calming" nervous system is working.
SD2: A measure of slower, broader heartbeat patterns that reflects the overall balance and flexibility of your entire autonomic nervous system.
PNS Index: A combined score representing how strongly your parasympathetic nervous system is functioning, which is the branch responsible for recovery, rest, and repair.
SNS Index: A combined score representing how activated your sympathetic nervous system is, which is the branch responsible for stress response, alertness, and energy mobilization.
HRV SDNN: A measure of the overall variation in your heartbeat timing, where greater variation generally signals a more resilient and adaptable nervous system.
Heart Rate: The number of times your heart contracts per minute, reflecting your current level of physical demand and nervous system activity.
For how the scan itself works, see How does the face scan work?.