Effects of Moderate Exercise and Cyclic Sighing on Stress, Cognition and Physiological Markers in Young Adults

Poznan University of Physical Education

Status: Begins enrollment this month

Conditions: Stress

Treatments: Behavioral: Moderate-Intensity Physical Activity (PA); Behavioral: Breathing Training - Cyclic Sighing (CS)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07379606

716/25

Details and patient eligibility

About

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:

1. Moderate-intensity physical activity (PA): 15 minutes of stationary cycling at 65-75% of maximum heart rate (HRmax).
2. 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.

Enrollment: 30 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 35 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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).

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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30 participants in 2 patient groups

Moderate-Intensity Physical Activity (PA)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants perform 15 minutes of stationary cycling at moderate intensity.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Moderate-Intensity Physical Activity (PA)

Breathing Training - Cyclic Sighing (CS)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants perform 15 minutes of cyclic sighing.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Breathing Training - Cyclic Sighing (CS)