Electrophysiological, Autonomic, and Psychological Responses to Acute Physical and Emotional Stress: A Within-Subject Experimental EEG Study
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 招募中
- 入组人数
- 30
- 试验地点
- 1
- 主要终点
- Change in EEG alpha-band activity during the Cold Pressor Test compared with resting-state baseline
研究概览
简要总结
This study aims to investigate neurophysiological, autonomic, and subjective responses to different acute physical and emotional stress-inducing conditions using a within-subject repeated-measures design.
Participants will complete four experimental conditions: a resting-state baseline, a Cold Pressor Test, a negative autobiographical memory recall task, and an affective picture-viewing task using stimuli selected from the Nencki Affective Picture System (NAPS). The order of the experimental stress conditions will be randomized or counterbalanced to minimize potential order and carry-over effects.
Electroencephalographic (EEG) and autonomic activity will be recorded throughout the experimental session. Autonomic measures will include heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), electrodermal activity (EDA), and skin conductance responses (SCR). Subjective levels of stress, anxiety, and pain will be assessed using visual analogue scales (VAS).
Participants will also complete validated psychological measures assessing resilience, perceived stress, and state and trait anxiety, together with the Tower of London task as a behavioral measure of executive planning.
The primary objective is to characterize the modulation of EEG alpha-band activity during acute physical stress, with the main comparison focusing on the Cold Pressor Test relative to resting-state baseline. Secondary and exploratory objectives include comparing cortical, autonomic, and subjective responses across experimental conditions and investigating whether individual psychological characteristics and executive functioning are associated with differences in psychophysiological stress responses.
详细描述
The study will employ a within-subject repeated-measures design to investigate neurophysiological, autonomic, subjective, and cognitive responses to different acute physical and emotional stress-inducing conditions.
Each participant will complete four experimental conditions within a single experimental session: (1) a resting-state baseline, (2) a Cold Pressor Test, (3) a negative autobiographical memory recall task, and (4) an affective picture-viewing task using stimuli selected from the Nencki Affective Picture System (NAPS). The order of the experimental stress conditions will be randomized or counterbalanced across participants to reduce systematic order, habituation, fatigue, and carry-over effects. Appropriate recovery periods will be introduced between conditions.
During the resting-state baseline, participants will remain seated and relaxed with their eyes closed for four minutes. This condition will provide a reference measure of spontaneous cortical and autonomic activity.
During the Cold Pressor Test, participants will immerse one hand in an ice-water bath and will be instructed to maintain the immersion for as long as tolerable, up to a maximum of three minutes. Participants will be allowed to withdraw their hand at any time if the stimulation becomes intolerable. Actual immersion duration will be recorded as an index of pain tolerance.
During the negative autobiographical memory recall condition, participants will be instructed to select a personally painful or distressing autobiographical memory and focus on its emotional and experiential aspects for three minutes while seated with their eyes closed. No specific autobiographical event will be suggested by the researcher.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Na
- 干预模型
- Single Group
- 主要目的
- Basic Science
- 盲法
- None
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 18 Years 至 —（Adult, Older Adult）
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 是
入选标准
- •Age between 18 and 65 years.
- •Ability to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent.
- •Sufficient knowledge of the Italian language to understand study instructions and complete the psychological assessments.
排除标准
- •History of major neurological disorders or other medical conditions that could significantly affect EEG or autonomic measurements.
- •Current severe psychiatric disorder that could interfere with participation in the experimental procedures.
- •Cardiovascular conditions for which exposure to the Cold Pressor Test may be contraindicated.
- •Medical conditions affecting peripheral circulation or sensitivity of the upper limbs that could interfere with or increase the risk associated with the Cold Pressor Test.
- •Current use of medications that may substantially affect autonomic or central nervous system activity, when considered clinically relevant to the study procedures.
- •Presence of wounds, injuries, or other conditions affecting the hand that would prevent safe completion of the Cold Pressor Test.
- •Inability to complete the experimental procedures or provide valid informed consent.
结局指标
主要结局
Change in EEG alpha-band activity during the Cold Pressor Test compared with resting-state baseline
时间窗: Day 1. During the single experimental session: resting-state baseline (4 minutes) and Cold Pressor Test (up to 3 minutes).
EEG alpha-band activity will be quantified from predefined scalp regions, with particular attention to frontal, parietal, and frontoparietal regions. The primary outcome will be the within-participant change in alpha-band EEG activity during the Cold Pressor Test relative to the resting-state baseline.
次要结局
- EEG alpha/theta ratio across experimental conditions(Day 1. During the single experimental session.)
- Heart rate variability across experimental conditions(Day 1. During the single experimental session)
- Electrodermal activity across experimental conditions(Day 1. During the single experimental session)
- Skin conductance responses across experimental conditions(Day 1. During the single experimental session)
- Subjective perceived stress across experimental conditions(Day 1. Immediately following the relevant experimental conditions during the single experimental session.)
- Subjective anxiety across experimental conditions(Day 1. Immediately following the relevant experimental conditions during the single experimental session.)
- Subjective pain intensity following the Cold Pressor Test(Day 1. Immediately following the Cold Pressor Test during the single experimental session.)
- Pain tolerance during the Cold Pressor Test(Day 1. During the Cold Pressor Test within the single experimental session.)
- Percentage of stimuli eliciting a skin conductance response during affective picture viewing(Day 1. During the affective picture-viewing condition within the single experimental session.)
研究者
Teresa Fazia
Principal Investigator
University of Pavia