Training Strategies to Maintain Performance

"This behavioral intervention involves a breathing pattern characterized by brief, rapid successive inhalations within each breath cycle. The timing of each short inhalation is coordinated with fast, cyclical auditory tones, providing a consistent rhythm for participants to follow. Visual cues are also displayed to reinforce the timing and sequence of breaths.~During training, participants first practice the breathing pattern without any cognitive task, followed by practice while performing the psychomotor vigilance task (PVT). The technique is then applied during the main experimental condition, where participants wear a chest wall force antagonistic device set at 25 cmH₂O to simulate the added work of breathing experienced underwater. The PVT lasts for 10 minutes, requiring participants to respond as quickly as possible to visual stimuli, allowing researchers to measure sustained attention and reaction time."

"This behavioral intervention uses a slow, paced breathing cycle incorporating four distinct phases: inhale, hold, exhale, and hold. Each phase is precisely timed and synchronized with distinct auditory tones for inhalation, hold phase, and exhalation. Participants also receive visual cues to reinforce correct timing and ensure consistency throughout the exercise.~Training begins with participants practicing the breathing pattern without any cognitive task, followed by practice while completing the psychomotor vigilance task (PVT). The full experimental condition involves performing the 10-minute PVT while wearing a chest wall force antagonistic device set at 25 cmH₂O to simulate the restrictive breathing load experienced in underwater environments. The PVT requires quick responses to visual stimuli, allowing measurement of sustained attention and reaction time under load."