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NCT Number: NCT07616804

Cognitive Responses to Acute Breath-Hold Diving Training in Female Divers

This study aims to investigate the acute cognitive and physiological responses to breath-hold diving training in trained female divers. Participants will complete three separate sessions including a control session, a land-based breath-hold training session, and a water-based breath-hold training session in randomized order. Cognitive performance, mood state, heart rate responses, respiratory function, and maximal breath-hold capacity will be evaluated before and after the interventions. The study is expected to improve understanding of how acute apnea-based diving exercises influence cognitive functions and physiological adaptations under different environmental conditions.

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Key information

Conditions

Sport Physiology Cognitive Performance

Age range

18 year–30 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Licensed breath-hold or free-diving athletes
  • Aged between 18 and 30 years
  • Minimum of 5 years of training experience
  • No known cardiovascular or pulmonary disease
  • Non-smokers
  • Willing to participate voluntarily
  • Refraining from intense exercise within 24 hours before testing

Exclusion criteria

  • Use of performance-enhancing drugs or ergogenic aids
  • Presence of chronic sports injury
  • Alcohol consumption within 24 hours before testing
  • Caffeine intake within 2 hours before testing
  • Sleep deprivation or severe fatigue
  • Current medication use Fear of water or inability to complete breath-hold procedures

Treatment and study plan

Land-Based Breath-Hold Training

Behavioral

Participants will perform structured land-based breath-hold exercises consisting of repeated apnea efforts at 60% of individual maximal breath-hold capacity with standardized rest intervals.

Water-Based Breath-Hold Training

Behavioral

Participants will perform structured breath-hold exercises in a swimming pool environment consisting of repeated apnea efforts at 60% of individual maximal breath-hold capacity with standardized rest intervals.

Control Session

Other

Participants will undergo baseline cognitive, respiratory, mood, and physiological assessments without structured apnea or breath-hold exercise intervention.

Primary outcomes

  1. Working Memory Accuracy (2-Back Test)

    Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the intervention, within 5 minutes post-intervention.

    Accuracy score obtained from the computerized 2-back cognitive task.

  2. Reaction Time During the 2-Back Test

    Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the intervention, within 5 minutes post-intervention.

    Mean reaction time recorded during correct responses in the 2-back cognitive task.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) Total Score

    Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the intervention, within 5 minutes post-intervention.

    Total mood disturbance score assessed using the Brunel Mood Scale questionnaire.

  2. Maximum Breath-Hold Duration

    Time frame: Baseline during the control session before intervention sessions.

    Maximum voluntary breath-hold duration recorded during testing.

  3. Resting Heart Rate

    Time frame: Before each experimental session.

    Resting heart rate measured before each session using a Polar heart rate monitor.

  4. Exercise Heart Rate Response

    Time frame: During the intervention session.

    Heart rate responses recorded every 30 seconds during the breath-hold exercise protocol.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Görkem Açar, Ress. Asst.

CONTACT

[email protected]

+90 545 407 01 98

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Istanbul Gelisim University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Investigation of Cognitive Responses to Acute Breath-Hold Diving Training in Female Divers

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jun 1, 2026
Registry last updated
Jun 1, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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