A Comparison of Psychophysiological Effects Between Relaxation Techniques and Physical Exercise in Young Adults
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Recruiting
- Sponsor
- Enrollment
- 30
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Mean EEG spectral power in theta, alpha, low beta, high beta, gamma frequency bands during resting-state (eyes-open and eyes-closed)
Study Overview
Brief Summary
This study investigates the effects of moderate physical exercise and cyclic sighing (breathing training) on stress, cognition, and physiological markers in young adults. It is a randomized cross-over trial with two interventions. Each participant will take part in two intervention sessions:
- Moderate-intensity physical activity (PA): 15 minutes of stationary cycling at 65-75% of maximum heart rate (HRmax).
- Breathing training (CS): 15 minutes of cyclic sighing, a technique involving inhaling, pausing briefly, taking a deeper breath, and exhaling slowly.
A one-week washout period between sessions is planned to minimise carry-over effects and to ensure participants' physiological state is similar before the next session. During this week, participants will wear Polar Ignite wrist-worn devices to monitor physical activity and sleep.
A total of 30 participants (you adults) will be enrolled.
Measurements performed before and after each intervention include:
- EEG using Emotiv EPOC Flex Gel (32-channel device): 2 minutes with eyes open, 2 minutes with eyes closed, during the interventions, and while performing cognitive test (N-back).
- Heart rate variability (HRV) using the Polar H10 sensor.
- SUDS - Subjective Units of Disress Scale for perceived stress.
- N-back test for cognitive performance using Emotiv App.
- Blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) and heart rate.
- Pain threshold measured with a dolorimeter.
- PANAS-SF - Positive and Negative Affect Schedule.
Baseline questionnaires completed by participants the day before the study:
- PSS-10 - Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen, Kamarck, Mermelstein).
- MAAS - Mindful Attention Awareness Scale
- Psychological well-being - short version
- Mini-COPE - Coping with Stress Inventory
- Sleep quality and average sleep duration
- Chronotype questionnaire (morningness-eveningness)
- GPAQ - Global Physical Activity Questionnaire
- Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
The study aims to understand how brief interventions like moderate exercise and breathing techniques affect stress, cognitive performance, and physiological responses in young adults.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Crossover
- Primary Purpose
- Basic Science
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 35 Years (Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •male or female participants,
- •age 18-35,
- •without chronic somatic diseases,
- •no current episode of psychiatric disorder (no active depression, mania, or psychosis),
- •regular sleep schedule in the week prior to the study,
- •not taking psychotropic drugs or medications,
- •non-smoker,
- •not working nightshifts.
Exclusion Criteria
- •consumption of alcohol or psychoactive substances the day before or on the day of the study,
- •intense physical activity less than 2 hours before the study,
- •consuming coffee, black tee, energy drinks less than 2 hours before the study,
- •contraindications to moderate-intensity physical activity on cycle ergometer (e.g., recent injuries),
- •contraindications to EEG (e.g., scalp skin conditions preventing proper electrode placement, hypersensitivity to conductive gels or pastes).
Arms & Interventions
Moderate-Intensity Physical Activity (PA)
Participants perform 15 minutes of stationary cycling at moderate intensity.
Intervention: Moderate-Intensity Physical Activity (PA) (Behavioral)
Breathing Training - Cyclic Sighing (CS)
Participants perform 15 minutes of cyclic sighing.
Intervention: Breathing Training - Cyclic Sighing (CS) (Behavioral)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Mean EEG spectral power in theta, alpha, low beta, high beta, gamma frequency bands during resting-state (eyes-open and eyes-closed)
Time Frame: Baseline: immediately before intervention; Post-intervention: immediately after completion of the intervention period
Mean spectral power in theta, alpha, low beta, high beta, and gamma frequency bands derived from resting-state EEG recordings collected during eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions. Spectral power will be calculated separately for eyes-open and eyes-closed resting-state conditions.
Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
Time Frame: Baseline (average over 5-minute resting-state immediately before intervention); During intervention (average over entire session, periprocedural); Post-intervention (average over 5-minute resting-state immediately after intervention).
HRV will be recorded at three time points. Baseline HRV will be calculated as the average over a 5-minute resting-state period immediately before intervention. HRV during the intervention will be calculated as the average over the entire intervention session (periprocedural). Post-intervention HRV will be calculated as the average over a 5-minute resting-state period immediately after intervention.
Secondary Outcomes
- Mean EEG spectral power in theta, alpha, low beta, high beta, and gamma frequency bands during N-back task(Baseline (during N-back task immediately before each intervention session, periprocedural); Post-intervention (during N-back task immediately after each intervention session, periprocedural))
- Mean EEG spectral power in theta, alpha, low beta, high beta, and gamma frequency bands during intervention session(During intervention session (periprocedural, averaged over entire session))
- Perceived Stress measured with the Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS)(Baseline: immediately before each intervention session; Post-intervention: immediately after each intervention session)
- Cognitive Performance (N-back)(Baseline: immediately before each intervention session; Post-intervention: immediately after each intervention session)
- Blood Pressure(Baseline: immediately before each intervention session; Post-intervention: immediately after each intervention session)
- Pain Threshold(Baseline: immediately before each intervention session; Post-intervention: immediately after each intervention session)
- Positive and Negative Affect measured with the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule - Short Form (PANAS-SF)(Baseline: immediately before each intervention session; Post-intervention: immediately after each intervention session)
- Heart Rate(Baseline: immediately before each intervention session; Post-intervention: immediately after each intervention session)