Breathing ExercisesNCT07810595
Three Breathing Techniques for Heart Rate Variability, Attention, Reaction Time, and Anxiety
A study testing Mindfulness Breathing, Box Breathing and Nadi Shodhana Pranayama in people with Breathing Exercises and Healthy Volunteers, run by Atlas University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This randomized controlled trial compared the effects of Mindfulness Breathing, Box Breathing, and Nadi Shodhana Pranayama on heart rate variability, attention performance, reaction time, and anxiety in healthy adults aged 18-40 years. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 40 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Breathing Exercises, Healthy Volunteers
- What is being tested?
- Mindfulness Breathing, Box Breathing and Nadi Shodhana Pranayama
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 48 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Sep 2025to 20 Jun 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 40 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Healthy adults aged 18 to 40 years.
- Ability to provide written informed consent.
- Ownership of a smartphone with internet access.
- Willingness to participate in daily breathing practice for six weeks.
Who cannot join
- Respiratory disease.
- History of lung transplantation.
- Pregnancy or suspected pregnancy.
- Previous experience with yoga, Qigong, breath therapy, or other structured breathing practices.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Comparative Effects of Three Breathing Techniques on Heart Rate Variability, Attention, Reaction Time, and Anxiety in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This randomized controlled trial compared the effects of Mindfulness Breathing, Box Breathing, and Nadi Shodhana Pranayama on heart rate variability, attention performance, reaction time, and anxiety in healthy adults aged 18-40 years. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three breathing intervention groups and practiced their assigned technique daily for six weeks. Primary outcomes included resting heart rate, RMSSD, and respiratory rate derived from 5-minute heart rate variability recordings. Secondary outcomes included attention performance assessed by the Digit Cancellation Test, reaction time assessed using the BlazePod system, and state and trait anxiety assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Participants received standardized face-to-face instruction, home practice videos, and daily WhatsApp reminders throughout the intervention.
Read the detailed description
Healthy adults aged 18-40 years were recruited using convenience sampling and randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to Mindfulness Breathing, Box Breathing, or Nadi Shodhana Pranayama. Participants received an individual face-to-face training session delivered by the same physiotherapist, practiced their assigned breathing technique under supervision until correct performance was confirmed, and subsequently performed daily home-based practice for six weeks using standardized instructional videos. Daily WhatsApp reminders containing the appropriate video link were sent to support adherence.
Heart rate variability was assessed using a Polar H10 heart rate monitor with 5-minute resting recordings analyzed using Kubios HRV software. Attention performance was measured using the Digit Cancellation Test, reaction time was assessed using the BlazePod wireless reaction system, and anxiety outcomes were evaluated using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Assessments were performed at baseline and after six weeks.
- Conditions
- Breathing Exercises, Healthy Volunteers
- Being tested
- Mindfulness Breathing, Box Breathing, Nadi Shodhana Pranayama
- Keywords
- Mindfulness Breathing, Box Breathing, Nadi Shodhana, Heart Rate Variability, Attention, Reaction Time, Anxiety
- Medical subject headings
- Anxiety Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Mindfulness BreathingBehavioural
Participants received an individual face-to-face training session from the same physiotherapist, practiced under supervision until correct performance was confirmed, and subsequently performed daily home-based mindfulness breathing for six weeks using standardized instructional videos and daily WhatsApp reminders.
Box BreathingBehavioural
Participants received standardized face-to-face instruction and performed daily home-based Box Breathing using a 4-second inhalation, 4-second breath hold, 4-second exhalation, and 4-second pause for six weeks, supported by instructional videos and daily WhatsApp reminders.
Nadi Shodhana PranayamaBehavioural
Participants received standardized face-to-face instruction and performed daily home-based alternate nostril breathing for six weeks using instructional videos and daily WhatsApp reminders.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness Breathing | Active comparator | Participants practiced mindful awareness of their natural breathing without intentionally altering breathing rhythm during daily home sessions for six weeks. Receives: Behavioral: Mindfulness Breathing |
| Box Breathing | Experimental | Participants performed a structured 4-4-4-4 breathing cycle consisting of 4 seconds of inhalation, 4 seconds of breath holding, 4 seconds of exhalation, and a 4-second post-exhalation pause during daily home practice for six weeks. Receives: Behavioral: Box Breathing |
| Nadi Shodhana Pranayama | Experimental | Participants performed alternate nostril breathing with controlled inhalation and exhalation while maintaining a slow and rhythmic breathing pattern during daily home practice for six weeks. Receives: Behavioral: Nadi Shodhana Pranayama |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Resting Heart Rate
Resting heart rate (beats per minute) measured from a 5-minute seated recording using the Polar H10 heart rate monitor (Polar Electro, Kempele, Finland).
Measured: Baseline and Week 6
Root Mean Square of Successive Differences (RMSSD)
RMSSD (milliseconds), a vagally mediated heart rate variability parameter, derived from 5-minute RR interval recordings analyzed using Kubios HRV software.
Measured: Baseline and Week 6
Respiratory Rate
Respiratory rate (breaths per minute) obtained from the 5-minute Polar H10 recording.
Measured: Baseline and Week 6
Secondary outcomes (3)
Digit Cancellation Test Score
Attention performance is assessed using the Digit Cancellation Test by recording the number of correctly identified targets within 30 seconds. Higher scores indicate better sustained and selective attention performance.
Measured: Baseline and Week 6
BlazePod Reaction Time
Reaction time assessed using a single BlazePod wireless light-based reaction system with the dominant hand. The system recorded average reaction time, number of successful responses, and number of errors.
Measured: Baseline and Week 6
Anxiety
Anxiety assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Scores range from 20 to 80, with higher scores indicating greater state anxiety.
Measured: Baseline and Week 6
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Sep 2026
- Study start1 Sep 2025
- Primary completion20 Jun 2026
- Study completion20 Jun 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Breathing ExercisesStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 48 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Atlas University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07810595
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- E 22686390 050.99 62685
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 3 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 11 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data will not be made publicly available.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 11 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparative Effects of Three Breathing Techniques on Heart Rate Variability, Attention, Reaction Time, and Anxiety in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07810595
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- E 22686390 050.99 62685
- Conditions
- Breathing Exercises, Healthy Volunteers
- Keywords
- Mindfulness Breathing, Box Breathing, Nadi Shodhana, Heart Rate Variability, Attention, Reaction Time, Anxiety
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 48 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Atlas UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Sep 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 20 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 20 Jun 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 9 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This randomized controlled trial compared the effects of Mindfulness Breathing, Box Breathing, and Nadi Shodhana Pranayama on heart rate variability, attention performance, reaction time, and anxiety in healthy adults aged 18-40 years. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three breathing intervention groups and practiced their assigned technique daily for six weeks. Primary outcomes included resting heart rate, RMSSD, and respiratory rate derived from 5-minute heart rate variability recordings. Secondary outcomes included attention performance assessed by the Digit Cancellation Test, reaction time assessed using the BlazePod system, and state and trait anxiety assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Participants received standardized face-to-face instruction, home practice videos, and daily WhatsApp reminders throughout the intervention.
Detailed description
Healthy adults aged 18-40 years were recruited using convenience sampling and randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to Mindfulness Breathing, Box Breathing, or Nadi Shodhana Pranayama. Participants received an individual face-to-face training session delivered by the same physiotherapist, practiced their assigned breathing technique under supervision until correct performance was confirmed, and subsequently performed daily home-based practice for six weeks using standardized instructional videos. Daily WhatsApp reminders containing the appropriate video link were sent to support adherence.
Heart rate variability was assessed using a Polar H10 heart rate monitor with 5-minute resting recordings analyzed using Kubios HRV software. Attention performance was measured using the Digit Cancellation Test, reaction time was assessed using the BlazePod wireless reaction system, and anxiety outcomes were evaluated using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Assessments were performed at baseline and after six weeks.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness Breathing | Active comparator | Behavioral: Mindfulness BreathingParticipants practiced mindful awareness of their natural breathing without intentionally altering breathing rhythm during daily home sessions for six weeks. |
| Box Breathing | Experimental | Behavioral: Box BreathingParticipants performed a structured 4-4-4-4 breathing cycle consisting of 4 seconds of inhalation, 4 seconds of breath holding, 4 seconds of exhalation, and a 4-second post-exhalation pause during daily home practice for six weeks. |
| Nadi Shodhana Pranayama | Experimental | Behavioral: Nadi Shodhana PranayamaParticipants performed alternate nostril breathing with controlled inhalation and exhalation while maintaining a slow and rhythmic breathing pattern during daily home practice for six weeks. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 40 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Healthy adults aged 18 to 40 years.
- Ability to provide written informed consent.
- Ownership of a smartphone with internet access.
- Willingness to participate in daily breathing practice for six weeks.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Respiratory disease.
- History of lung transplantation.
- Pregnancy or suspected pregnancy.
- Previous experience with yoga, Qigong, breath therapy, or other structured breathing practices.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness BreathingParticipants received an individual face-to-face training session from the same physiotherapist, practiced under supervision until correct performance was confirmed, and subsequently performed daily home-based mindfulness breathing for six weeks using standardized instructional videos and daily WhatsApp reminders. | Behavioural | Mindfulness Breathing |
| Box BreathingParticipants received standardized face-to-face instruction and performed daily home-based Box Breathing using a 4-second inhalation, 4-second breath hold, 4-second exhalation, and 4-second pause for six weeks, supported by instructional videos and daily WhatsApp reminders. | Behavioural | Box Breathing |
| Nadi Shodhana PranayamaParticipants received standardized face-to-face instruction and performed daily home-based alternate nostril breathing for six weeks using instructional videos and daily WhatsApp reminders. | Behavioural | Nadi Shodhana Pranayama |
Primary outcome
Resting Heart Rate
Time frame: Baseline and Week 6
Resting heart rate (beats per minute) measured from a 5-minute seated recording using the Polar H10 heart rate monitor (Polar Electro, Kempele, Finland).
Root Mean Square of Successive Differences (RMSSD)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 6
RMSSD (milliseconds), a vagally mediated heart rate variability parameter, derived from 5-minute RR interval recordings analyzed using Kubios HRV software.
Respiratory Rate
Time frame: Baseline and Week 6
Respiratory rate (breaths per minute) obtained from the 5-minute Polar H10 recording.
3 secondary outcomes
Digit Cancellation Test Score
Time frame: Baseline and Week 6
BlazePod Reaction Time
Time frame: Baseline and Week 6
Anxiety
Time frame: Baseline and Week 6
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 11 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data will not be made publicly available.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Mindfulness Breathing, Box Breathing and Nadi Shodhana Pranayama in people with Breathing Exercises and Healthy Volunteers, run by Atlas University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Resting Heart Rate (time frame: Baseline and Week 6). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 11 Sep 2026.