Search Results (19)

Background: Chronic unpredictable stress triggers various pathological and metabolic alterations by modulating psychophysiological balance. Valeric acid (VA), a postbiotic material, has been reported to mitigate stress-induced behavioral changes in rodents. Objectives: To investigate the protective effect of valeric acid against chronic unpredictable stress in a rodent model by assessing neuro-physiological alterations along with changes in biochemical parameters to confirm the possible mechanism. Methods: A 14-day chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) model in albino Wistar rats was developed to check the stress-induced changes using forced swim test, tail suspension test and sexual behavior observation. Quantification of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, plasma corticosterone level and oxidative stress parameters were also done. Results: Findings revealed the protective effects of valeric acid against CUS, which reversed the depression caused by a forced swim and tail suspension test in rats. Proinflammatory and oxidative stress markers were significantly (p < 0.05) restored in CUS rats treated with valeric acid as compared with the vehicle control, which was comparable to the standard drug, Panax ginseng. Conclusions: The present study concludes that valeric acid demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) anti-stress effect by modulating both behavioral responses and stress-related biochemical modifications. Full article

Introduction: Psychosocial functioning and body image are key dimensions of mental well-being and performance. Among professional dancers, competitive environments, aesthetic demands, and physical–emotional overload contribute to increased anxiety, stress, and mood disturbances, potentially impairing performance and heightening injury risk. Objective: To investigate longitudinal variations in psychosocial and emotional indicators among professional dancers throughout a season of rehearsals and performances. Methods: Thirteen dancers (9 women and 4 men) from a professional company were assessed across eight time points using the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS), State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-State), Recovery–Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (REST-Q 76 Sport), and Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). Data was analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc tests (p < 0.05). Results: Negative mood dimensions progressively increased (p < 0.01; η²p = 0.46, large), while vigor decreased (p = 0.03; η²p = 0.29, medium), indicating an inversion of the typical “iceberg” profile. Overall stress levels increased (p = 0.02; g = 0.53, power = 0.81) and perceived recovery declined (p = 0.04; g = 0.41, power = 0.78). State anxiety rose consistently (p < 0.01; η²p = 0.42), and body dissatisfaction, assessed via the BSQ, increased from “no concern” to “high concern” classifications (p = 0.03; g = 0.59, power = 0.84). Conclusions: Overall, the findings indicating a longitudinal pattern of increased psychometric strain indicators, inferred exclusively from psychometric trends, and conceptually consistent with a possible imbalance between perceived demands and perceived recovery, rather than reflecting objectively measured workload or recovery processes. Full article

Remote, self-managed neuroempowerment protocols are emerging as promising tools for promoting psychophysical well-being in healthy individuals through scalable, home-based interventions. Rooted in positive psychology, applied psychophysiology, and embodied awareness practices, these protocols increasingly leverage wearable technologies and digital platforms to support self-regulated training in cognitive, emotional, and physical domains. This scoping review explores the current literature on such interventions, guided by a triadic model of subjective well-being encompassing neurocognitive efficiency, psychological balance, and physical fitness. A systematic search across major scientific databases identified 28 studies meeting inclusion criteria, with a focus on home-based interventions targeting healthy adult populations using embodied awareness practices, applied psychophysiology techniques, and empowerment-based strategies. Findings indicate that these interventions yield improvements in attention regulation, stress reduction, and subjective well-being, particularly when combining digital feedback systems with embodied practices. However, significant methodological limitations persist, including the overreliance on self-report measures, lack of longitudinal follow-up, and insufficient integration of objective, multimodal assessment tools. Moreover, few studies explicitly address the role of participant engagement and agency—key elements in neuroempowerment frameworks that conceptualize the individual not as a passive recipient of treatment, but as an active agent in the training process. This review highlights the need for more rigorous and theoretically grounded research, advocating for integrative, adaptive intervention models supported by wearable neurotechnologies. Such approaches hold the potential to enhance motivation, personalize feedback, and promote sustainable well-being in ecologically valid, participant-centred ways. Full article

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with long-term disturbances in stress regulation, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress and reduced psychological coping capacity. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between selected neurobiological biomarkers (Insulin-like Growth Factor 1—IGF-1; Caspase-9—CASP-9; Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase—nNOS; and Interleukin-10—IL-10) and coping styles evaluated using the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (Brief-COPE) questionnaire in men with trauma experience. Particular emphasis was placed on analyzing the effect of PTSD chronicity (≤5 years vs. >5 years) on these relationships. The study included 92 adult men with a history of life-threatening situations. Participants were divided into three groups: PTSD within the past ≤5 years (n = 33), PTSD within the past >5 years (n = 31), and a No PTSD group (n = 28). Biomarkers were measured in blood serum. Coping strategies were assessed using the Brief-COPE questionnaire, which includes four subscales: task-oriented, emotion-oriented, avoidant, and general coping. Due to the lack of normal distribution, the Kruskal–Wallis test and Dunn’s post hoc test were used. Correlations between biomarkers and Brief-COPE subscales were calculated using Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient (Rho). Significant differences between groups were found in all four biomarkers (p < 0.001). IGF-1 and IL-10 reached the highest values in the No PTSD group and the lowest in the PTSD ≤ 5 years group, indicating neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory deficits in PTSD. Conversely, CASP-9 and nNOS levels (markers of apoptosis and oxidative stress) were highest in PTSD ≤ 5 years, with partial normalization in the PTSD > 5 years group. In terms of coping strategies, the No PTSD group displayed a highly adaptive profile (task-oriented: 30/32; emotion-oriented: 43/48; and avoidant: 12/32). Individuals with PTSD ≤ 5 years presented a maladaptive pattern (task-oriented: 13/32; avoidant: 26/32; and emotion-oriented: 27/48), while in PTSD > 5 years, a further decline in emotion-oriented (21/48) and general coping (59/112) was observed, suggesting progressive depletion of psychological resources. The strongest correlations between biomarkers and coping strategies occurred in PTSD groups. Low IGF-1 levels in PTSD ≤ 5 years correlated negatively with emotion-oriented coping (Rho = −0.39) and general coping (Rho = −0.35). High CASP-9 levels were associated with reduced task-oriented coping in PTSD > 5 years (Rho = −0.29). Similar trends were observed for nNOS and IL-10, indicating a disturbance in neurobiological balance that favors persistence of PTSD symptoms. PTSD, both in its acute and chronic phases, is associated with an abnormal profile of neuroprotective, apoptotic, and inflammatory biomarkers, which correlates with impaired adaptive coping capacity. Although partial normalization of biological parameters is observed in chronic PTSD, deficits in emotion-oriented and task-oriented coping persist. The Brief-COPE questionnaire, combined with biomarker analysis, may serve as a useful clinical tool for assessing psychophysiological balance and designing early interventions. These results highlight the potential of IGF-1, CASP-9, nNOS, and IL-10 as biomarkers of stress adaptation and therapeutic targets in PTSD. Full article

Background: Student-athletes face the dual challenge of balancing academic and athletic commitments, which may simultaneously promote healthy lifestyle habits while increasing psychosocial and physiological stressors, particularly among female student-athletes. Understanding how these competing demands affect key behavioral (e.g., dietary habits, sleep, and chronotype) and psychological (e.g., body image) factors is essential for supporting their overall well-being. Therefore, this cross-sectional study investigated body dissatisfaction, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, sleep quality, and chronotype in female student-athletes compared to sedentary peers. Methods: Twenty-eight female participants voluntarily participated in the study. Twelve volleyball student-athletes (age 21.6 ± 2.4 years) were assessed during their competitive in-season period, and sixteen non-athlete students with a high sitting time (age 24.0 ± 3.2 years) completed the Mediterranean Diet Adherence questionnaire (PREDIMED), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), and Body Image Dimensional Assessment (body dissatisfaction) to assess their overall well-being. Results: Student-athletes showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet (PREDIMED: 8.5 ± 1.5 score), although experiencing poorer sleep quality (PSQI: 6.8 ± 3.0 score) compared to non-athlete students with higher sitting times (PREDIMED: 6.7 ± 1.6 score; PSQI: 4.6 ± 2.3 score). Conversely, comparative body dissatisfaction was significantly higher in non-athlete students with a high sitting time (19.4 ± 24.5%) than in student-athletes (5.6 ± 10.5%). No significant differences emerged for chronotype or overall body dissatisfaction. Conclusions: These findings highlight a paradoxical health pattern in female student-athletes who combine healthier eating habits with poorer sleep quality. The results emphasize the importance of comprehensive wellness strategies that integrate dietary habits, sleep hygiene, and psychophysiological factors to better support female student-athletes in managing dual-career demands. Full article

Performance anxiety is a common issue among musicians, and it could be fundamental to monitor their psychophysiological states during performances through non-invasive methods to support them in managing anxiety. Hence, infrared thermography (IRT) could be a valuable tool for this purpose. The study aims to assess whether IRT can effectively monitor musicians’ psychophysiological states. The facial temperature of four musicians was recorded during two conditions: rehearsal and live performance. The temperature time course was extracted from 3 regions of interest (ROIs) (i.e., forehead, nose tip, and perioral), and the following metrics were computed: skewness, kurtosis, and sample entropy. Moreover, machine learning models were applied to evaluate the presence of stress and the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The results showed notable changes in thermal metrics in all the ROIs. Moreover, the prevalence of the sympathetic system for 50% of the rehearsal and 92% of the live performance durations was assessed. Additionally, the presence of elevated stress indicators was assessed for 6% of the duration of the rehearsals and 9% for the live performances. These results demonstrated the capability of IRT to assess modifications of the psychophysiological state of the musicians secondary to the condition of the performance. Full article

This study investigates how cognitive and self-regulation factors impact online interview performance among college students with ADHD. With unemployment rates for individuals with disabilities significantly higher than the general population, understanding the unique challenges posed by AI-driven virtual interviews is critical. Forty-six students with ADHD completed a structured interview simulation using the Big Interview platform, coupled with eye-tracking data and cognitive assessments. Results reveal that higher-performing participants (Gold tier) demonstrated a balanced focus on content comprehension and interviewer engagement, while lower-performing participants (Bronze tier) spent significantly more time on content fixation. Logistic regression indicated that cognitive flexibility, as measured by NIH Dimensional Card Sorting, predicts interview success, emphasizing the importance of task-switching skills in virtual environments. These findings suggest the need for targeted interventions, such as executive function training, to prepare neurodivergent individuals for the demands of AI-driven hiring practices. The study highlights the potential of psychophysiological metrics in understanding and enhancing interview performance, advocating for inclusive, evidence-based strategies that align with Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) principles. This research provides actionable insights for educators, employers, and technology developers aiming to create accessible and equitable virtual interview platforms. Full article

This study describes the features, manifestations and interrelationships of job stress, working capacity, professional performance and safety in loggers with a shift work organization in the North. This study involved 402 loggers. The research methods include questionnaires and psychophysiological diagnostics of stress and working capacity as well as questionnaires on the professional performance and safety of workers. The following statistical methods were used: correlation, multivariate dispersion and multi-regression stepwise analysis. It was found that the severity of stress, speed, accuracy and operator working capacity, as well as well-being, activity and mood in logging equipment operators, timber truck drivers and maintenance specialists statistically differ significantly. Higher professional stress and a more frequent decrease in professional performance are characteristic of truck drivers. Psychological and psychophysiological job stress and working capacity parameters are associated with the professional performance parameters of loggers. According to the results of a number of multi-regression analyses, the reduced professional performance markers of loggers include the index of stress, satiety, monotony and fatigue, vegetative balance and stress (method of M. Luscher and coefficients from G.A. Aminev), operator working capacity and reaction speed (CVMR). Full article

Despite the benefits of exercise on mental and physical health, excessive training loads can lead to health problems in the long term, including a wide spectrum of menstrual dysfunction (MD). This narrative review aims to analyze the relationship between physical exercise and MD in adolescent female athletes to support regular menstrual health monitoring and promote educational programs on reproductive risks. When dealing with MD in young athletes, several factors entangled with maturation of the hypothalamus–pituitary–ovarian axis should be considered. Firstly, some disciplines seem to have a higher prevalence of MD due to the high loads of training regimes and the early introduction of athletes to a competitive career. Moreover, low energy intake and a low body mass index appear to exacerbate existing MD. Lastly, disordered eating behaviors and psychological stress can contribute to MD in female athletes. The type of sport, influencing the intensity and duration of exercise, as well as individual psycho-physiological and environmental factors, may influence the role of physical activity in the manifestation of MD. Early recognition and management of MD, along with collaboration between sports organizations and health professionals, are crucial to minimize risks, ensure proper nutrition, and balance training with recovery. Keeping an open discussion on the topic may prospectively improve awareness, early diagnosis, and treatment strategies, as well as reduce injury risk and enhance sports performance. Full article

The testosterone to cortisol ratio (T:C ratio) is a measure of whether elite athletes are recovering from their training. This study described this hormone balance stress in elite women’s basketball. (1) Objectives: to analyse the fluctuation of T:C ratio over a 16-week period and explore itis relation to their athletic performance. The participants characteristics were: (height: 177.6 ± 6.4 cm; body mass: 77.808 ± 12.396 kg age: 26.0 ± 5.9 years; and a playing experience of 14.7 ± 2.9 years with 5.0 ± 1.2 years at the elite level. The T:C ratio at Time 1 is: 4.0 ± 2.4 (n = 12); and at Time 2 is: 5.1 ± 4.3 (n = 12). (2) Methods: during 16 weeks of competition, participants underwent analysis of blood samples to assess various biochemical parameters including hormone levels. In addition, their athletic performance was assessed with the following tests: jumping (SJ, CMJ, ABK, DJ); throwing test with a medicine ball (3 kg); Illinois COD agility test; sprint repeatability with change of direction; 20-m speed test without change of direction; and Yo-yo intermittent endurance test IET (II). (3) Results: The main alterations observed were an increase in T levels (1.687%) and a decrease in C levels (−7.634%) between moments, with an improvement (26.366%) in the T:C ratio. Improvements were also observed in some of the tests developed, such as jumping (SJ: 11.5%, p = 0.029; CMJ: 10.5%, p = 0.03; DJ: 13.0%, p = 0.01), upper body strength (MBT: 5.4%, p = 0.03), translation ability (20 m: −1.7%), repeated sprint ability (RSA: −2.2%), as well as intermittent endurance test (Yy (IET): 63.5%, p = 0.01), with significant changes in some of the performance tests. (4) Conclusions: T:C ratio may differ in a manner unrelated to training volume, showing some variation. These results may be attributed to the accumulation of psychophysiological stress during the season. Full article

Lateral ankle sprains are one of the most frequent athletic injuries in football, causing deficits in balance. Motor Imagery (MI) has been successively included in sports rehabilitation as a complementary therapeutic intervention. The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of MI on static and dynamic balance and on the fear of re-injury in professional football players with Grade II ankle sprains. Fifty-eight participants were randomly allocated into two groups: First—MI group (n = 29) and second—Placebo group (n = 29), and they each received six intervention sessions. The first MI group received MI guidance in addition to the balance training program, while the second Placebo group received only relaxation guidance. One-way ANOVA showed statistically significant results for all variables, both before and 4 weeks after the interventions for both groups. The t-test showed statistically significant differences between the two groups for static balance for the right lower extremity (t = 3.25, S (two-tailed) = 0.002, p < 0.05) and also for heart rate (final value) in all time phases. Further research is needed in order to establish MI interventions in sports trauma recovery using stronger MI treatments in combination with psychophysiological factors associated with sports rehabilitation. Full article

Understanding pedestrians’ cognitive processes in traffic environments is crucial for developing strategies to enhance safety and reduce accidents. This study assesses the efficacy of virtual reality (VR) in evaluating pedestrian behavior in simulated road-crossing scenarios. It investigates VR’s capability to realistically mimic the cognitive load experienced in real-world settings. It examines the technical integration of VR with psychophysiological recording to capture cognitive demand indicators accurately. Utilizing a dedicated VR application and electroencephalogram (EEG) measurements, this research aims to elicit significant Event-Related Potentials (ERP), like P3 and Contingent Negative Variation (CNV), associated with decision-making processes. The initial results demonstrate VR’s effectiveness in creating realistic environments for investigating cognitive mechanisms and the balance between induced immersion and experienced discomfort. Additionally, the tasks involving time-to-arrival estimations and oddball scenarios elicited the anticipated components related to attentional and decision-making processes. Despite increased discomfort with extended VR exposure, our results show that it did not negatively impact the cognitive workload. These outcomes highlight VR’s efficacy in replicating the cognitive demands of real-world settings and provide evidence to understand the neurophysiological and behavioral dynamics of vulnerable road users (VRUs) in traffic scenarios. Furthermore, these findings support VR’s role in behavioral and neurophysiological research to design specific safety interventions for VRUs. Full article

(1) Background: A new mental illness is attracting the attention of researchers and mental health professionals. Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is a possible new mental disorder, the main symptom of which is an obsessive and insecure focus on healthy foods and consequent compulsive behaviors. There is a common consensus among researchers that ON is considered partly overlapping with obsessive–compulsive disorders (OCDs). (2) Methods: MEDLINE and Scopus were searched for articles published in the last 10 years regarding the psychophysiological aspects of OCD and ON. Eight studies met the eligibility criteria. The inclusion criteria encompassed adults diagnosed with OCD and/or ON. However, only studies involving OCD patients were found. (3) Results: Some research groups have shown that OCD disorders can be considered among anxiety disorders because they are characterized by anxious hyper activation. Other research, however, has shown profiles characterized by low psychophysiological reactivity to stressful stimuli. Despite this, there seems to be a consensus on the poor inhibition abilities, even when activation is low, and the dissociation between cognitive and psychophysiological activation emerged. (4) Conclusions: However discordant, some points seem to bring the researchers to agreement. In fact, there is consensus on conducting a multidimensional assessment that can measure all of the aspects of suffering (cognition, emotion, and behavior) and highlight the poor body–mind integration. This clinical approach would make it possible to propose interventions aimed at treating some mental illnesses such as food obsession that can paradoxically impair the psychophysical balance. Nevertheless, the applied systematizing approach to existing studies on ON is very much needed for better understanding of the psychophysical nature of this new mental illness and its implications for prevention and treatment. Full article

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Biofeedback (BFB) has been shown to improve autonomic balance and wellbeing in chronic diseases. As cardiac variability represents an index of cognitive and emotional regulation, HRV-BFB has been shown to lead to improvements in physiological and psychological adaptability and quality of life. However, knowledge of HRV-BFB in cancer patients is lacking, and available results are diversified according to methods and outcomes. The present paper undertakes a scoping review, exploring the use of HRV-BFB to modulate autonomic balance, cancer symptom management, and quality of life in cancer. This scoping review analyzes empirical evidence considering study designs, BFB methods, and psychophysiological outcomes. Research that focused on HRV-BFB effects in cancer patients was selected (79%). In addition, a systematic review and meta-analysis (31%) focusing on HRV, or BFB in chronic conditions, including cancer, were considered. The studies examined BFB treatment for thyroid, lung, brain or colon cancer, hematologic cancer, and survivors or terminal cancer patients. Retrieved studies reported physiological and psychological indices as primary outcomes: they included HRV values, sleep, pain, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and quality of life. Although the heterogeneity of publications makes it difficult to generalize the effectiveness of HRV-BFB, the training has been proven to improve cancer symptoms and well-being. Full article

(1) Background: the research purpose is to identify and describe the stress and working capacity dynamics of oil and gas fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) workers in the Arctic during the fly-in period using biochemical, psychophysiological and psychological methods with further analysis of the relationship between them using objective, subjective and projective indicators. (2) Methods: The research involved 70 oil and gas FIFO specialists in the Arctic. The study of stress and working capacity was carried out using biochemical (saliva analysis for cortisol), psychophysiological (complex visual–motor reaction and variational cardiointervalometry) and psychological (questionnaire “Well-being. Activity. Mood”, M. Luscher’s color test and the subjective control level methods. (3) Results: There is a similarity in the dynamic curves of oil and gas FIFO employees’ stress and working objective, subjective and projective indicators during the fly-in period. The maximum relationships number was obtained between objective cortisol indicators in saliva (stress), complex visual–motor response indicators (operator working capacity), variational cardiointervalometry (functionality level), and interpretation coefficients (working capacity, stress, vegetative balance) according to M. Luscher’s test. (4) Conclusions: The obtained results made it possible to explain the mechanisms underlying the previously developed FIFO workers’ adaptation strategies classification, in which emergency and economic adaptation strategies were identified. Full article