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

Investigation of 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.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Cognitive Performance; Sport Physiology
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Control Session; Behavioral: Land-Based Breath-Hold Training; Behavioral: Water-Based Breath-Hold Training

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Görkem Açar, Ress. Asst.; Phone Number: +90 545 407 01 98; Email: gacar@gelisim.edu.tr

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye), 34000
    • Istanbul Gelisim University
    • Contact: Görkem Açar, Ress. Asst.; Phone Number: +90 545 407 01 98; Email: gacar@gelisim.edu.tr

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

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

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Control Session; Participants will complete baseline cognitive, respiratory, mood, and maximal breath-hold assessments without structured breath-hold exercise.	Other: Control Session; Participants will undergo baseline cognitive, respiratory, mood, and physiological assessments without structured apnea or breath-hold exercise intervention.
Experimental: Land-Based Breath-Hold Training; 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; 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.
Experimental: Water-Based Breath-Hold Training; 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; 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.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
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 Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) Total Score	Total mood disturbance score assessed using the Brunel Mood Scale questionnaire.	Baseline and immediately after the intervention, within 5 minutes post-intervention.
Maximum Breath-Hold Duration	Maximum voluntary breath-hold duration recorded during testing.	Baseline during the control session before intervention sessions.
Resting Heart Rate	Resting heart rate measured before each session using a Polar heart rate monitor.	Before each experimental session.
Exercise Heart Rate Response	Heart rate responses recorded every 30 seconds during the breath-hold exercise protocol.	During the intervention session.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Istanbul Gelisim University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): June 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 7, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 27, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): June 1, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 1, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 27, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 2026/148

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No