Evaluation of Autonomic Nervous System Function During Sleep by Mindful Breathing Using a Tablet Device: Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: An issue to be considered in university education is the need for interventions to improve the quality of sleep as well as to improve the educational system for university students However, the sleep challenge remains unresolved. As a technique in clinical practice, the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction method is expected to help students develop mindfulness skills to cope with stress, develop self-healing skills and sleep.Objective: This study, to verify the effectiveness of mindfulness breathing exercises using a tablet device, we compared a group that applied mindfulness breathing exercises with a group that did not, and evaluated autonomic nervous system function during sleep using LF, HF, and LF/HF ratios calculated from cardiac potential analysis.Methods: Twenty nursing students (aged 18-22 years) were randomly allocated and divided into nine mindfulness implementation groups (Mi group) and nine mindfulness non-implementation groups (nMi group) using tablet devices. During the nine-day experimental period, cardiac potentials were measured on days 1, 5 and 9. Each sleep stage (S sleep, PS sleep (shallow), PS sleep (deep)), LF, HF and LF/HF ratio obtained from the cardiac potentials were evaluated.Results: On day 5, there was a significant correlation between sleep duration and each sleep stage in both the Mi and nMi groups. In comparison to each experimental day, the LF and LF/HF ratios of the Mi group were significantly higher on day 1 compared to days 5 and 10. nMi group LF and HF values were significantly higher on day 1 compared to day 5. Conclusions:The correlation between sleep duration and each sleep stage on day 5 suggests that sleep homeostasis in both groups was activated on day 5 of the experiment, resulting in similar changes in sleep stages. During the experimental period, cardiac potentials in the nMi group showed a wide range of fluctuations, while the LF values and LF/HF ratio in the Mig group showed a decreasing trend over time. This suggested that the implementation of mindfulness breathing exercises using a tablet device may have suppressed sympathetic activity during sleep.