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1- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract:
Objective(s): Impaired cognitive performance is a common consequence of acute partial sleep deprivation (PSD). Nasal respiration modulates neuronal activity across different brain areas and enhances the power of higher-frequency brain oscillations. The current study investigated the impact of nasal respiration on cortical brain oscillations and the cognitive performance of subjects with acute PSD in the numerical Stroop test (NST).
Materials and Methods: A total of 26 male and female subjects underwent the NST and electroencephalography (EEG) on the initial day, which established their baseline performance. Over the next 24 hours, participants were instructed to sleep only between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. and remain awake for the rest of the period. The NST was repeated the following day. Prior to the second NST, participants in the oral respiration group performed mouth breathing, followed by resting EEG recording, while those in the nasal respiration group practiced nasal breathing for 3 minutes before resting EEG recording.
Results: Taking nasal breathing recovered the increased error rate (p<0.01) and shortened reaction time (p<0.01) observed in the oral respiration group. In addition, nasal respiration reversed the increases in delta and theta power, as well as the decreases in beta and gamma power associated with PSD, when compared to the oral respiration group.
Conclusion: This study suggests that mechanical stimulation of the olfactory epithelium through nasal respiration may improve cognitive performance in individuals with acute sleep deprivation.
Materials and Methods: A total of 26 male and female subjects underwent the NST and electroencephalography (EEG) on the initial day, which established their baseline performance. Over the next 24 hours, participants were instructed to sleep only between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. and remain awake for the rest of the period. The NST was repeated the following day. Prior to the second NST, participants in the oral respiration group performed mouth breathing, followed by resting EEG recording, while those in the nasal respiration group practiced nasal breathing for 3 minutes before resting EEG recording.
Results: Taking nasal breathing recovered the increased error rate (p<0.01) and shortened reaction time (p<0.01) observed in the oral respiration group. In addition, nasal respiration reversed the increases in delta and theta power, as well as the decreases in beta and gamma power associated with PSD, when compared to the oral respiration group.
Conclusion: This study suggests that mechanical stimulation of the olfactory epithelium through nasal respiration may improve cognitive performance in individuals with acute sleep deprivation.
Keywords: oral breathing, nasal breathing, acute sleep deprivation, electroencephalography, numerical Stroop test
Type of Study: Original |
Subject:
Cognitive Neuroscience
Received: 2025/08/16 | Accepted: 2026/06/6
Received: 2025/08/16 | Accepted: 2026/06/6
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