Neurophysiological and Autonomic Responses to Acute Physical and Emotional Stress: An EEG Study
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorUniversity of Pavia
About this trial
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.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
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.
Disqualifiers
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.
Trial design
Design model
Single group
Treatments tested in this trial
Cold Pressor Test
BehavioralParticipants 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 may withdraw their hand at any time if the stimulation becomes intolerable. The actual duration of hand immersion will be recorded as an index of pain tolerance. EEG and autonomic activity will be continuously recorded during the task.
Negative Autobiographical Memory Recall
BehavioralParticipants 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. EEG and autonomic activity will be continuously recorded during the task.
Affective Picture-Viewing Task
BehavioralParticipants will view negative and neutral images selected from the Nencki Affective Picture System (NAPS). Each trial will consist of a 10-second fixation period followed by a 30-second image presentation. Images will be presented in randomized order while EEG and autonomic activity are continuously recorded.
Treatment groups
30 Participants
are divided into 1 treatment groupGroup A: Experimental Stress ConditionsExperimental treatment 3 interventions
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Change in EEG alpha-band activity during the Cold Pressor Test compared with resting-state baseline
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.
Time frame
Day 1. During the single experimental session: resting-state baseline (4 minutes) and Cold Pressor Test (up to 3 minutes).Secondary outcomes
1
EEG alpha/theta ratio across experimental conditions
The EEG alpha/theta power ratio will be calculated as the ratio between alpha-band and theta-band EEG power in predefined scalp regions and compared within participants across the resting-state baseline, Cold Pressor Test, negative autobiographical memory recall, and affective picture-viewing conditions. The alpha/theta ratio is a dimensionless measure.
Time frame
Day 1. During the single experimental session.2
Heart rate variability across experimental conditions
Heart rate variability (HRV) will be derived from cardiac recordings and compared across the resting-state baseline, Cold Pressor Test, negative autobiographical memory recall, and affective picture-viewing conditions.
Time frame
Day 1. During the single experimental session3
Electrodermal activity across experimental conditions
Electrodermal activity (EDA) will be continuously recorded throughout the experimental session as an index of sympathetic autonomic activation. EDA will be compared within participants across the resting-state baseline, Cold Pressor Test, negative autobiographical memory recall, and affective picture-viewing conditions.
Time frame
Day 1. During the single experimental session4
Skin conductance responses across experimental conditions
Skin conductance responses (SCR) will be derived from electrodermal recordings obtained continuously during the experimental session. The number and frequency of measurable SCRs will be quantified and compared within participants across the resting-state baseline, Cold Pressor Test, negative autobiographical memory recall, and affective picture-viewing conditions. Higher values indicate a greater frequency of phasic electrodermal responses.
Time frame
Day 1. During the single experimental sessionSponsors and contacts
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University of Pavia
Lead sponsor
University of Padova
Collaborator
San Raffaele University Hospital, Italy
Collaborator
IRCCS San Raffaele
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov