The Effect of Water Temperature on Heart Rate Variability and Cognition
ConditionMental Acuity
Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexFemale
Age18-30
SponsorArizona State University
About this trial
Heart rate variability (HRV) is a key indicator of fitness, and stress resilience. Previous research has shown that HRV decreases under mental workload, including during tasks that require strict attention. Studies also show that temperature exposure affects attention: cold increases the stress response while warm water has a calming effect. Very few studies combine thermal exposure with cognitive testing, and no controlled trials have investigated whether water temperature modulates HRV responses specifically during cognitive demand.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
Healthy women free of chronic disease (by self-report)
18-30 years of age
Disqualifiers
medication/drug use that has not been consistent for the previous 3 months or will be discontinued during the trial
any acute illness
regular use of cigarettes or marijuana
pregnant or lactating women
Trial design
Design model
Crossover
Treatments tested in this trial
water
Other interventionwater temperature
Treatment groups
30 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: Warm waterExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Cold waterPlacebo comparator 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
heart rate variability
the measure of the variation in time between consecutive heartbeats
Time frame
3 minutes2
cognitive performance
Trail making test that measures cognitive flexibility, visual attention, and executive function, with interpretation based on completion times (in seconds)
Time frame
3 minutesSecondary outcomes
1
cognitive performance
Stroop Color-Word Test which measures attention span, reaction time, and ability to resist distractions
Time frame
3 minutes2
cognitive performance
reaction time: measured by the elapsed time between stimulus onset and an individual's response
Time frame
3 minutesLocations
Sponsors and contacts
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Source ClinicalTrials.gov
This trial is not recruiting at the moment. You can still explore other options: