Wind instruments require continuous changes in breathing patterns. Big expiratory effort in high notes is related to a strenuous expiratory strain similar to Valsalva (1), where acute baroreflex stress evokes a vagal reactivation oriented to quickly coupling cardiac and respiratory functioning (1, 2). This improvement of the Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia reflexes a cardiac autonomic enhancement, increasing Heart Rate (HR) Variability (HRV) (1, 3). However, playing wind instruments is also a physical and cognitive task which may exert musicians to their maximum, leading to sympathetic arousal and autonomic worsening. Previous studies have found differences in HRV in wind musicians regarding anxiety (4) but, to our knowledge, this is the first study looking for differences in the cardiac autonomic control regarding the Perceived Difficulty (PD). 8 male wind instrument musicians (29.13±7.33 years; 69.36±10.31 kg) were asked to rank a list of known performances in terms of PD. Later on, in two normal rehearsals with no audience (alternate days), musicians performed a mild performance (M), and the most difficult (D) one. After 10 min of warm up, they performed twice for 20 min , with 5 min of rest. HR was recorded (Polar 810) in a sitting position, including 20 min previous to the performance and post-performance registers. The last 500 beats within each 20 min in the four sample conditions (pre; per1; per2 & post performance) were retained for further analysis with Kubios (software 2.1). Root Mean Square of Successive Differences (RMSSD) and Poincare Plot indexes (SD1 and SD2) were considered due to the non-stationarity of the cardiac signal. A Repeated Measures ANOVA, followed by Bonferroni post-hoc, was conducted to search for significant differences regarding PD (between subject factor), and the interaction between PD and the Time-Course of the performance (within factor). HRV outputs were log transformed, if needed. Univariate contrast showed higher lnRMSSD, lnSD1 and SD2 outputs in D (p<0.05), with no differences in RRi and the ratio SD1/SD2. Regarding the interaction PD*Time-course, univariate contrast showed differences in SD1/SD2 (p<0.05), with lnRMSSD and lnSD1 close to significance (p= 0.55 for both). Bonferroni confirmed that both were significantly higher in Per2_D (p=0,026). Augmented requirements in wind musicians evoke larger parasympathetic responses (lnRMSSD; lnSD1) mostly after 30 min playing. Vagal control is diminished in the first lap, where musicians may be coupling HR dynamics to continuous changes in breathing. This initial discomfort may cause autonomic reactivation. Unlike similar activities (e.g. singing) (5), sympathetic arousal seems to be reduced regarding PD and the interaction PD*Time-course, even while playing (i.e. SD2; SD1/SD2). Wind instruments are healthy in terms of autonomic control, and psychological wellness may count for it.