Science Of The Day
Out of context: Reply #372
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- neverscared0
Response speed is modulated by respiratory phase
Highlights
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Performance on a sustained attention task varies by the phase of the respiratory cycle
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Broad implications for understanding brain-body interactionsSummary
Mere milliseconds can determine whether a sprinter or swimmer wins or places second. Would it help to intentionally control breathing while awaiting the starting signal? Here, we analyzed sustained-attention performance in 35 adults and found that response speed varied with respiratory phase. Responses were faster during exhalations and during respiratory pauses compared to during inhalations. Fine-grained analyses across the entire respiratory cycle revealed that reaction times were slowest around the peak of inhalations, corroborating a systematic relationship between respiratory phase and speed of response in this widely used attention test. This work highlights respiration as an important contributor to moment-to-moment variability in performance under circumstances of sustained attention and suggests potential benefits of aligning breathing patterns with task demands.- so hold your breath at the start line of a sprint race_niko
- or race in one breath? or as less breaths possible...neverscared