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

NCT07616804 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2026/148
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Sport Physiology; Cognitive Performance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Working Memory Accuracy (2-Back Test)

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

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

• Reaction Time During the 2-Back Test

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

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

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) Total Score

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

• Maximum Breath-Hold Duration

  Baseline during the control session before intervention sessions.

• Resting Heart Rate

  Before each experimental session.

• Exercise Heart Rate Response

  During the intervention session.

Study Arms (3)

Control Session

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will complete baseline cognitive, respiratory, mood, and maximal breath-hold assessments without structured breath-hold exercise.

Other: Control Session

Land-Based Breath-Hold Training

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will perform land-based breath-hold exercises at 60% of individual maximal breath-hold capacity followed by post-intervention cognitive and mood assessments.

Behavioral: Land-Based Breath-Hold Training

Water-Based Breath-Hold Training

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will perform water-based breath-hold exercises in a swimming pool at 60% of individual maximal breath-hold capacity followed by post-intervention cognitive and mood assessments.

Behavioral: Water-Based Breath-Hold Training

Interventions

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.

Land-Based Breath-Hold Training

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.

Water-Based Breath-Hold Training

Control Session OTHER

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

Control Session

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• 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

You may not qualify if:

• 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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul Gelisim University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Istanbul Gelisim University

Istanbul, 34000, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Central Study Contacts

Görkem Açar, Ress. Asst.

CONTACT

+90 545 407 01 98; gacar@gelisim.edu.tr

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: No masking procedures will be applied because participants and investigators will be aware of the intervention conditions during the sessions.
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Ress. Asst.

Model Details: Participants will complete control, land-based breath-hold, and water-based breath-hold sessions in randomized crossover order. Cognitive, physiological, and mood-related responses will be evaluated before and after each session.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 7, 2026
• First Posted: June 1, 2026
• Study Start: June 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 15, 2026
• Last Updated: June 1, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Locations

TU (1)