Stress, Acute Stress Reaction, Breathing Techniques, Cognitive Performance
Conditions
Keywords
Stress, Trier Social Stress Test, Acute Stress, Breathing Technique, Box Breathing, Cognitive Performance, Biomarkers
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of different breathing techniques on biomarkers of stress and cognitive performance following the Trier Social Stress Test.
Detailed description
This study examined the effect of three various breathing techniques (i.e., normal breathing, prolonged exhalation, and box breathing) on biomarkers of stress and mental performance after the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). The TSST has been shown to result in significant increases in psychological and physiological stress markers. Therefore, the goal of this study was to examine potential interventions to mitigate the effects of this psychological stressor while maintaining increased cognitive performance. Moreover, previous literature has shown various effects of breathing interventions, therefore, the investigators wished to further validate breathing techniques as an effective tool to mitigate stress and increase cognitive performance. The data from this research provided insight to real life events, allowing for a principal understanding of how to reduce stress, focused at first responder populations.
Interventions
OTHERBox Breathing
Box breathing consisted of a 4 second inhale, 4 second hold, 4 second exhale, 4 second hold; for 4 minutes.
OTHERProlonged Exhalation
Prolonged Exhalation consisted of a deep, 3 second inhale, followed by a slow 6 second exhale through pursed lips, once every 30 seconds for 4 minutes.
OTHERNormal Breathing
This was the placebo, normal breathing group was instructed to breath as they normally would for the entirety of the 4 minute period.
Sponsors
Texas State University, San Marcos
Texas State University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Intervention model description
Subjects were randomly assigned to one of three groups, between and within subject analysis occurred.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 39 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Generally healthy * Between the ages of 18-39, * Student at Texas State.
Exclusion criteria
* Any known cardiovascular or metabolic disease * Consuming any medication for psychiatric disorders (i.e., anxiety, depression, ADHD) * Being diagnosed with any psychiatric or physical conditions * Any major stressors in the last 30 days (i.e., birth of a child, abortion, divorce).
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive Challenge | 20 minutes prior to TSST start and immediately post TSST. | Subjects participated in a 1 minute familiarization for the Stroop Color Word Challenge, followed by a full 2 minute Stroop Color Word challenge. Immediately following the Stroop, subjects then participated in a 2 minute mental arithmetic. The Stroop consisted of conflicting color-word fonts, and the subject had to choose the correct font color: subjects had .5 seconds to respond to each answer utilizing a color coordinated keypad. The mental arithmetic consisted of a series of mathematical problems (i.e., one, two, or three digit addition and subtraction). If subjects got an answer wrong for the mental math, a buzzer would sound. |
| Heart Rate | HR was recorded 4 times, during each saliva sample collection period | Heart rate was recorded immediately prior to each saliva sample using the same tools to record the HRV measure. The Polar H10 and HRVTrace app was utilized to record a Heart rate measure 4 times throughout the study. |
| State Anxiety Inventory (SAI) | Timepoint 1-4, 40 minutes pre, 10 minutes pre, immediately post, 25 minutes post. | The SAI is a 6 question survey on a 24 point scale, asking the subject to record how they feel. Questions asked were I am calm, I am tense, I am worried, I am relaxed, etc. Subjects were asked to fill this out 4 times throughout the study, alongside the HR and saliva samples. |
| Heart rate variability | HRV was recorded immediately following the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th saliva samples. | Heart Rate Variability (HRV) was measured three times over the course of the study in order to measure responses to stress. A Polar H10 monitor was used, alongside the HRVTrace app to record the three measures. Each HRV measurement was 7 minutes, and required the subjects to sit quietly and watch a standardized nature video. |
| Secretory Immunoglobin-A | 40 minutes prior to modified TSST start, 10 minutes prior to modified TSST start, immediately post modified TSST, and 25 minutes post TSST | SIgA is a marker of immune function and salivary SIgA concentrations tend to increase when exposed to stress |
| Salivary Alpha Amylase | 40 minutes prior to modified TSST start, 10 minutes prior to modified TSST start, immediately post modified TSST, and 25 minutes post TSST | salivary alpha amylase is an enzyme involved in digestive processes. Amylase concentration in saliva have been shown to reflect sympathetic stress. Thus, as sympathetic stress increases, salivary amylase concentrations tend to increase. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed