Influence of slow-paced breathing on inhibition after physical exertion

This research aims to investigate whether slow-paced breathing (SPB) improves adaptation to psychological stress, and specifically inhibition, when it is performed before or after physical exertion (PE). According to the resonance model, SPB is expected to increase cardiac vagal activity (CVA). Further, according to the neurovisceral integration model, CVA is positively linked to executive cognitive performance, and would thus play a role in the adaptation to psychological stress. We hypothesized that SPB, in comparison to a control condition, will induce a better adaptation to psychological stress, measured via better inhibitory performance. Two within-subject experiments were conducted with athletes: in the first experiment (N = 60) SPB (or control – neutral TV documentary) was realized before PE (“relax before PE”), and in the second experiment (N = 60) SPB (or the watching TV control) was realized after PE (“relax after PE”). PE consisted of 5 min Burpees, a physical exercise involving the whole body. In both experiments the adaptation to psychological stress was investigated with a Stroop task, a measure of inhibition, which followed PE. Perceived stress increased during PE (partial η2 = 0.63) and during the Stroop task (partial η2 = 0.08), and decreased during relaxation (partial η2 = 0.15), however, no effect of condition was found. At the physiological level PE significantly increased HR, RF, and decreased CVA [operationalized in this research via the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD)] in both experiments. Further, the number of errors in the incongruent category (Stroop interference accuracy) was found to be lower in the SPB condition in comparison to the control condition, however, these results were not mediated by RMSSD. Additionally, the Stroop interference [reaction times (RTs)] was found to be lower overall in “relax before PE,” however, no effect was found regarding SPB and Stroop interference (RTs). Overall, our results suggest that SPB realized before or after PE has a positive effect regarding adaptation to psychological stress and specifically inhibition, however, the underlying mechanisms require further investigation

Decision-specific reinvestment scale: an exploration of its construct validity, and association with stress and coping appraisals

International audienceObjectiveThis research project aimed to explore the construct validity of the Decision-Specific Reinvestment Scale (DSRS); more specifically, its links with stress and coping appraisals.DesignStudy 1 validated the DSRS and the Movement-Specific Reinvestment Scale (MSRS) to the French language, in order to examine the construct validity of the DSRS using the MSRS, the Preference for Intuition and Deliberation (PID) inventory and the Melbourne Decision-Making Questionnaire (MDMQ). In addition, sex differences in reinvestment were investigated. Study 2 examined stress and coping appraisals of high and low reinvesters.MethodIn study 1, 379 athletes completed the DSRS, MSRS, PID, and MDMQ. In study 2, 100 handball players, classified as low and high reinvesters, completed surveys aimed to assess stressor intensity, stressor perceived controllability, coping effectiveness, subjective performance and coping strategies with the Coping Inventory for Competitive Sport over three games.ResultsIn study 1, we found that intuitive athletes scored lower on the DSRS in comparison to deliberative athletes, whilst no difference was found for the MSRS. Convergent and discriminant validity was illustrated with the subscales of the MDMQ. No sex differences were found regarding reinvestment. In study 2, findings showed that low reinvesters scored higher than high reinvesters in terms of stressor perceived controllability, coping effectiveness and subjective performance.DiscussionIn addition to confirmation of construct validity, these findings strengthen our understanding of how high decision reinvesters perceive a pressured situation. Key applications are derived from our findings informing coaches and athletes in offsetting the negative effects of reinvestment on sport performance.Highlights• French validation of the Decision and Movement Specific Reinvestment scales.• Intuitive athletes have a lower tendency to decision reinvestment.• Low decision reinvesters rate their subjective performance to be higher.• Low decision reinvesters rate their stressor controllability to be higher.• Low decision reinvesters rate their coping effectiveness to be higher

Influence of a 30 days slow paced breathing intervention compared to social media use on subjective sleep quality and cardiac vagal activity

Breathing techniques are part of traditional relaxation methods; however, their influence on psychophysiological variables related to sleep is still unclear. Consequently, the aim of this paper was to investigate the influence of a 30-day slow-paced breathing intervention compared to social media use on subjective sleep quality and cardiac vagal activity (CVA, operationalized via high-frequency heart rate variability). Healthy participants (n = 64, 33 male, 31 female, M = 22.11, SD = 3.12) were randomly allocated to an experimental or control group. In the experimental group, they had to perform slow-paced breathing for 15 min each evening across a 30-day period. This was administered through a smartphone application. The control group used social media (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp) for the same duration. The night before and after the intervention, their CVA was assessed via a light portable Electrocardiogram (ECG) device, and they had to fill out the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire. Results showed that in comparison to the use of social media, the slow-paced breathing technique improved subjective sleep quality and increased overnight CVA, while a tendency was observed for morning awakening CVA. Slow-paced breathing appears a promising cost-effective technique to improve subjective sleep quality and cardiovascular function during sleep in young healthy individuals

Exécution de penalties et de tirs au but au football : maîtrise technique ou gestion des émotions chez les tireurs et les gardiens de but

Des matchs de football se terminent parfois par des séances de tirs au but. Lors de ces faces-à-faces entre tireurs et gardiens de but, chacun des protagonistes tente de deviner les intentions de l’autre pour lui faire échec et gagner le duel. L’objectif de cette étude est d’apprécier le rôle de certains facteurs dans la transformation ou la non transformation d’un penalty. Ces facteurs vont de la gestion des émotions à la maîtrise technique en passant par l’importance du match et l’effet de la fatigue. Pour ce faire, un questionnaire prenant en compte les facteurs ci-dessus énumérés a été élaboré et administré à 150 footballeurs (120 joueurs et 30 gardiens de but) du championnat national béninois de première division. Les résultats de cette étude ont révélé qu’au niveau des footballeurs enquêtés, c’est la dimension gestion des émotions qui est le facteur qui les influence le plus au cours de l’exécution des penalties et des tirs au but. S’agissant des gardiens de but ayant participé à cette enquête, aucun des deux facteurs retenus ne semble exercer une influence particulière sur eux au cours des duels qui les opposent aux tireurs lors des penalties et des séances de tirs au but.Mots clés : Penalty, émotion, habileté technique, tireur, gardien de but.English AbstractFootball games sometimes end by penalty shoot-out sessions. During these faces to faces between penalty takers and goalkeepers each of the protagonists attempts to guess the intentions of the other to defeat him and win the duel. The objective of this study is to assess the role of certain factors in the success or failure of a penalty kick. These factors range from the emotions management to the technical ability via the importance of the tournament and the effect of fatigue. To do this, a questionnaire taking into account the factors listed above was developed and administered to 150 footballers (120 players and 30 goalkeepers) of the Benin first national division championship. The results of this study showed that among the footballers investigated is the emotions managing dimension which is the factor that most influences during the execution of the penalty kicks or penalty shoot-out. Regarding the goalkeepers who participated in this survey, none of the two factors selected does not seem to influence particular on them during duels that oppose them to the penalty takers during the penalty kicks or penalty shoot-out sessions.Keywords: Penalty kick, emotion, skill, penalty shooter, goalkeepe

The effect of slow-paced breathing on stress management in adolescents with intellectual disability

Background: Intellectual disabilities often create a state of chronic stress for both the person concerned and their significant others (family, caregivers). The development of stress management methods is therefore important for the reduction of stress in persons with intellectual disability. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effect of slow-paced breathing on stress symptoms experienced by adolescents with intellectual disabilities during a cognitive task under time pressure. Method: Fourteen adolescents with intellectual disabilities (Mage = 17.39 years, range 15-19 years) took part in two laboratory sessions - a slow-paced breathing session (experimental condition) and an audiobook session (control condition) - the order of which was counterbalanced across participants. Vagal tone was measured through heart rate variability to index stress management. Results: No difference in vagal tone was observed at baseline between experimental and control conditions. Compared with the control condition, vagal tone was significantly higher during the experimental condition. Conclusions: The slow-paced breathing task enhanced stress management to a greater extent than did listening to an audiobook. Slow-paced breathing seems to be an easy to learn stress management technique that appears as an effective auxiliary method of lowering stress in adolescents with intellectual disabilities

The Influence of Slow-Paced Breathing on Executive Function

The aim of this experiment was to test the immediate effects of slow-paced breathing on executive function. Slow-paced breathing is suggested to increase cardiac vagal activity, and the neurovisceral integration model predicts that higher cardiac vagal activity leads to better executive functioning. In total, 78 participants (41 men, 37 women; Mage = 23.22 years) took part in two counterbalanced experimental conditions: a 3 × 5 min slow-paced breathing condition and a television viewing control condition. After each condition, heart rate variability was measured and participants performed three executive function tasks: the color-word match Stroop (inhibition), the automated operation span task (working memory), and the modified card sorting task (cognitive flexibility). Results showed that performance on executive function tasks was better after slow-paced breathing compared to control, with higher scores observed for Stroop interference accuracy, automated operation span score, and perseverative errors, but not Stroop interference reaction times. This difference in executive function between experimental conditions was not mediated by cardiac vagal activity. Therefore, findings only partially align with predictions of the neurovisceral integration model. Slow-paced breathing appears a promising technique to improve immediate executive function performance. Further studies are recommended that address possible alternative underlying mechanisms and long-term effects

A systematic review of programmes that promote adherence to regular physical activity in the elderly: The role of affective barriers

Research examining relevant variables that influence adherence to programmes designed to increase regular physical activity in the elderly is abundant. The purpose of the present review was to determine whether affective barriers associated with individuals’ expectations to engage in regular physical activity in the +65 years old had been considered and, if so how they were integrated in the development of such intervention programmes. Amongst the 1195 citations identified, eight studies only were retained. These studies highlighted interpersonal influence as a critical variable of the programmes promoting regular physical activity amongst the +65. Furthermore, findings suggest that the affective dimension and interpersonal emotional regulation need consideration when developing such programmes

Effects of voluntary slow breathing on heart rate and heart rate variability: A systematic review and a meta-analysis

Voluntary slow breathing (VSB) is used as a prevention technique to support physical and mental health, given it is suggested to influence the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). However, to date, no comprehensive quantitative review exists to support or refute this claim. We address this through a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of VSB on heart rate variability (HRV). Specifically, we focus on HRV parameters indexing PNS activity regulating cardiac functioning, referred to as vagally-mediated (vm)HRV: (1) during the breathing session (i.e., DURING), (2) immediately after one training session (i.e., IM-AFTER1), as well as (3) after a multi-session intervention (i.e., AFTER-INT). From the 1842 selected abstracts, 223 studies were suitable for inclusion (172 DURING, 16 IM-AFTER1, and 49 AFTER-INT). Results indicate increases in vmHRV with VSB, DURING, IM-AFTER1, and AFTER-INT. Given the involvement of the PNS in a large range of health-related outcomes and conditions, VSB exercises could be advised as a low-tech and low-cost technique to use in prevention and adjunct treatment purposes, with few adverse effects expected