Effects of Auditory Stimulus Noise Levels on the Locomotor-Respiratory Coupling
Advisor Information
Jennifer Yentes
Location
Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
4-3-2016 9:00 AM
End Date
4-3-2016 10:30 AM
Abstract
Breathing and walking are physiological processes and are naturally coupled in humans. The strength of coupling between the two systems can have an effect on how much energy it costs to complete the task. An external auditory stimulus can enhance the degree of coupling; however, the previous stimulus of choice has been a metronome, which is an invariant noise signal. The absence of variability between beats may negatively affect the physiological systems, as variability is a natural characteristic in healthy systems. This study will compare the effects of three different types of external stimuli (different variability in the stimulus from highly predictable to highly random) on locomotor-respiratory coupling. The study population will be 15 healthy, young adults between the ages of 19 and 35 years. Over two visits participants will complete 14, 16-minute conditions (7 conditions/visit) on a self-paced treadmill. During each visit, an auditory stimulus will be played during six of the seven conditions, in which three will be similar to their breathing frequency and the other three similar to their walking frequency. Step time, breath time, and walking and breathing data will be used to calculate locomotor-respiratory frequency ratio and strength of coupling. A 3x3 repeated measures ANOVA will determine the effect of the noise signals. Data collections are currently in progress. Data will be processed and analyzed in a timely manner. The analyses completed will provide evidence of the effect of the noise signals on the coupling between breathing and walking.
Effects of Auditory Stimulus Noise Levels on the Locomotor-Respiratory Coupling
Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library
Breathing and walking are physiological processes and are naturally coupled in humans. The strength of coupling between the two systems can have an effect on how much energy it costs to complete the task. An external auditory stimulus can enhance the degree of coupling; however, the previous stimulus of choice has been a metronome, which is an invariant noise signal. The absence of variability between beats may negatively affect the physiological systems, as variability is a natural characteristic in healthy systems. This study will compare the effects of three different types of external stimuli (different variability in the stimulus from highly predictable to highly random) on locomotor-respiratory coupling. The study population will be 15 healthy, young adults between the ages of 19 and 35 years. Over two visits participants will complete 14, 16-minute conditions (7 conditions/visit) on a self-paced treadmill. During each visit, an auditory stimulus will be played during six of the seven conditions, in which three will be similar to their breathing frequency and the other three similar to their walking frequency. Step time, breath time, and walking and breathing data will be used to calculate locomotor-respiratory frequency ratio and strength of coupling. A 3x3 repeated measures ANOVA will determine the effect of the noise signals. Data collections are currently in progress. Data will be processed and analyzed in a timely manner. The analyses completed will provide evidence of the effect of the noise signals on the coupling between breathing and walking.