Evaluation of Autonomic Nervous System Function During Sleep by Mindful Breathing Using a Tablet Device: Randomized...

Area of Science:

• Physiology
• Psychology
• Digital Health

Background:

• University students frequently experience sleep disturbances, impacting academic performance and well-being.
• Existing interventions often fail to resolve sleep issues in this demographic.
• Mindfulness-based stress reduction offers a potential strategy for enhancing coping mechanisms and sleep quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of mindful breathing exercises delivered via a tablet device.
• To assess the impact of these exercises on physiological markers of sleep in university students.

Main Methods:

• 18 nursing students were randomized into mindfulness (Mi) and non-mindfulness (nMi) groups using tablet devices over 9 days.
• Cardiac potentials were measured on days 1, 5, and 9 to analyze low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and LF/HF ratios during different sleep stages.
• Sleep stages analyzed included sympathetic nerve dominance, shallow sleep (parasympathetic dominance), and deep sleep (parasympathetic dominance).

Main Results:

• A significant correlation between sleep duration and sleep stages was observed on day 5 in both groups, indicating activated sleep homeostasis.
• The mindfulness group exhibited significantly higher LF and LF/HF ratios on day 1 compared to days 5 and 10.
• The non-mindfulness group showed significantly higher LF and HF values on day 1 than on day 5.

Conclusions:

• Mindful breathing exercises via tablet may help regulate sympathetic activity during sleep, as indicated by decreasing LF values and LF/HF ratios in the mindfulness group.
• While sleep homeostasis was activated on day 5 in both groups, the mindfulness intervention demonstrated a trend towards reduced sympathetic dominance.
• Tablet-based mindful breathing presents a promising, accessible tool for improving sleep quality and managing stress in university students.