Cardiorespiratory coupling: common rhythms in cardiac, sympathetic, and respiratory activities.
Thomas E Dick, Yee-Hsee Hsieh, Rishi R Dhingra...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24746049Actively Recruiting
Phase Not Applicable
Age: 18Years - 60Years
All Genders
Healthy Volunteers
ID07529379
Breathwork and Stress: Investigating the Mechanisms of Action and Effectiveness of Breathing Interventions in Modulating the Psychophysiological Response to Acute Stress Test
Led by Medical University of Bialystok · Updated on 2026-04-21
120
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
4 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are studying whether the calming benefits of slow, steady breathing come from a specific breathing rhythm of 6 breaths per minute or from the general experience of a structured, mindful activity. This trial compares "coherent breathing" that may sync heart and lung rhythms against faster paced breathing and simple resting to see which best lowers physical stress markers like heart rate variability and cortisol. The study focuses on healthy adults aged 18 to 60 and uses a controlled laboratory stress test called the Maastricht Acute Stress Test (MAST). Participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups: slow coherent breathing at 6 breaths per minute, sham breathing at 15 breaths per minute matching a natural pace, or a control group sitting quietly without guided breathing. Each participant completes a preparation day to learn their assigned breathing technique, then attends one experimental session. During the session, they perform their breathing method before and after the stress test involving cold water hand immersion and mental math. The breathing sessions last 10 minutes each and are guided by rhythmic audio cues. Throughout the study, researchers measure heart rate variability using a heart monitor, collect saliva samples to test cortisol levels, and assess mood and anxiety with questionnaires at five time points during the session. Breathing adherence is checked with software analyzing respiratory rates. The trial aims to capture both the immediate and recovery effects of the breathing interventions on physical and psychological stress responses. Participants' involvement lasts for the preparation plus the single experimental day.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Breathwork and Stress: Investigating the Mechanisms of Action and Effectiveness of Breathing Interventions in Modulating the Psychophysiological Response to Acute Stress Test
Who Can Participate
Age: 18Years - 60Years
All Genders
Healthy Volunteers
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Healthy adults
- Aged 18 to 60 years
- Willingness to participate in all study phases, including preparation and laboratory session
- Professionally active individuals or university students
You will not qualify if you...
- Severe chronic diseases, including metabolic disorders and mental disorders
- Cardiac arrhythmia, history of heart attacks, strokes, or heart surgery
- Regular use of anxiolytics or beta-blockers (excluding hormonal contraception)
- Pregnancy
- Current participation in other scientific experiments
- Significant prior experience with breathing techniques or regular breathwork/meditation practice within the last 12 months
- Professional sports practice
- Raynaud's disease
- Inability to abstain from alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine for required periods before the experiment
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
1
2
3
Your Study Journey
Screening
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Baseline Assessment
Duration - 5 minutes
Participants undergo a 5-minute baseline measurement of physiological and psychological parameters including heart rate variability and subjective stress levels.
1 visit (in-person)
First Intervention
Duration - 10 minutes
Participants perform their assigned breathing technique or sit quietly for 10 minutes to assess preventive effects before acute stress exposure.
1 visit (in-person)
Acute Stress Induction
Duration - 15 minutes
Participants undergo a 15-minute structured stress test involving hand immersion in cold water and mental arithmetic under social-evaluative pressure.
1 visit (in-person)
Post-Stress Recovery and Second Intervention
Duration - 15 minutes
Immediately following the stress test, participants have a 5-minute recovery measurement followed by a second 10-minute session of their assigned breathing technique or quiet sitting.
1 visit (in-person)
Final Assessments and Recovery
Duration - Approximately 20 minutes
Participants complete final physiological and psychological assessments immediately after the second intervention and after a 15-minute recovery phase to measure stress response and recovery.
1 visit (in-person)
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Medical University of Bialystok. Department of Physiology.
Bialystok, Podlaskie Voivodeship, Poland, 15-222
Actively Recruiting
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Research Team
A
Adam Siebieszuk, Master
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
3
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Published Research Related To This Trial
Heart rate variability and slow-paced breathing:when coherence meets resonance.
Caroline Sevoz-Couche, Sylvain Laborde
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35167847Breathwork for Chronic Stress and Mental Health: Does Choosing a Specific Technique Matter?
Adam Siebieszuk, Adam Filip Płoński, Marcin Baranowski
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40843749Introducing the Maastricht Acute Stress Test (MAST): a quick and non-invasive approach to elicit robust autonomic and glucocorticoid stress responses.
Tom Smeets, Sandra Cornelisse, Conny W E M Quaedflieg...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22608857The Maastricht Acute Stress Test (MAST): Physiological and Subjective Responses in Anticipation, and Post-stress.
Alexandra L Shilton, Robin Laycock, Sheila G Crewther
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28469586