The Effect of Breathing on Cognitive Performance and Stress

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Stress; Acute Stress Reaction; Breathing Techniques; Cognitive Performance

• Registration Number: NCT06986135
• Lead Sponsor: Texas State University

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.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2024-08-01
• Status Verified: 2025-05
• Primary Completion: 2025-05-01
• Study Completion: 2025-05-01
• Study First Submitted: 2025-05-07
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-05-15
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-05-15
• Study First Posted: 2025-05-22
• Last Update Posted: 2025-05-22

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 66

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).

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
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.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Texas State University, Metabolic & Applied Physiology Lab; 🇺🇸 San Marcos, Texas, United States