Heart rate variability and cortisol levels in school-age children with different cognitive tests

Abstract

Background. An urgent task of age-related physiology is to study the functional state of the body of school-age children in cognitive activity due to the large academic load and the use of information and computer technologies in the educational process to identify the characteristics of the reactivity of the body of students when performing cognitive load of various types, including on electronic devices, is necessary for the organization of the school educational environment.The aim. To assess the nature of vegetative, cardiovascular and hormonal reactivity in cognitive load of various types in school-age children.Materials and methods. By methods of heart rate variability analysis, electrocardiography, tonometry and enzyme immunoassay of cortisol in saliva, 117 school-age children were examined while performing cognitive load of various types.Results. There is a change in heart rate variability indicators while performing cognitive load. Oral counting causes an increase in sympathetic influences on the heart rate with a decrease in parasympathetic activity, as well as a shift in the vagosympathetic balance. Operation on the electronic devices causes a decrease in the total power density of the spectrum and an increase in the index of low-frequency and highfrequency vibrations ratio due to a decrease in parasympathetic activity. Two types of reaction were revealed: type I – an increase in the concentration of cortisol in saliva, an increase in sympathetic effects on Heart rate with a simultaneous decrease in parasympathetic activity (counting), a decrease in the total power of the spectrum density (laptop), a decrease in parasympathetic activity (tablet). Type II – a decrease in hormone levels and a decrease in very low-frequency vibrations and parasympathetic activity, regardless of the type of load presentedConclusion. The results obtained indicate that the nature of the reactivity of heart rate indicators and the stress hormone cortisol in students depends not so much on which electronic device it is performed on, but on the type of cognitive load.

Insights into Biomarker Correlations in Relation to Stress: A Preliminary Analysis

“…By analyzing the cardiovascular measurements during the night prior to the mental task, the aim was to identify potential connections between sleeping patterns anticipating an unexpected event, referring to prior studies creating associations between changes in heart rate variability and heightened cortisol levels [28], [29]. Based on the provided data taken from the participants' Oura application, the following results are being presented in Figure 3.…”

“…Based on the provided data taken from the participants' Oura application, the following results are being presented in Figure 3. Building upon prior studies [28], [29], the study's findings explored associations between changes in nighttime HRV and post-task cortisol levels. Those with greater changes in HRV typically demonstrated heightened cortisol responses post-task (see Figure 2), underscoring the close relationship between cardiovascular indicators of stress and the endocrine system [30].…”