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Evaluation of Mindful Breathing Method Using Tablet Devices Through Chaos Analysis and Frequency Analysis: A Pilot
1Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Hyogo University, Kakogawa City, Japan.
Biomedical Engineering and Computational Biology
|May 26, 2026
Summary
Mindful breathing exercises using tablets increased pulse wave amplitude in university students, suggesting potential benefits for autonomic nervous system activity. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore nonlinear dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Psychology
- Digital Health
Background:
- University students experience significant stress impacting academic performance and well-being.
- Autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity is crucial for managing stress responses.
- Mindful breathing is a potential intervention for stress reduction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively assess the impact of tablet-guided mindful breathing on ANS activity in university students.
- To analyze changes in finger plethysmogram (pulse wave amplitude) and chaos analysis metrics.
- To investigate the feasibility of using digital devices for mindfulness interventions.
Main Methods:
- A pilot randomized controlled trial involving 18 nursing students.
- Intervention group (n=9) practiced mindful breathing via tablet; control group (n=9) performed cross fixation.
- Finger plethysmograms were measured at baseline and after 9 days.
Main Results:
- The mindful breathing group showed a significant increase in pulse wave amplitude (P=.001).
- The control group exhibited a decrease in pulse wave amplitude (P=.001).
- No significant differences were found in chaos analysis (Lyapunov exponent, fractal dimension) between groups.
Conclusions:
- Tablet-guided mindful breathing may influence peripheral autonomic activity, as indicated by pulse wave amplitude changes.
- Current findings suggest potential but inconclusive effects on nonlinear autonomic dynamics.
- Larger studies with diverse physiological measures are recommended to validate these results.
Keywords:
autonomic nervous system (ANS)chaos analysisfinger plethysmogramfrequency analysismindful breathing methodmindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)
