Evan Belaire
Pronouns: he/him
Research Mentor(s): Peter Bodary
Co-Presenter: Cole, Grace
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Movement Science / Kinesiology
Presentation Date: April 20
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Session 4 – 2:40pm – 3:30 pm
Room: League Ballroom
Authors: Grace Cole, Evan Belaire, Hannah Swirple, Christopher Brooks, Peter Bodary
Presenter: 77
Abstract
Normal daily responses to physical and mental challenges depend on changing contributions between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. At rest, the contributions of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system activity can be evaluated by measuring heart rate variability (HRV). HRV is the physiological phenomenon of variation in time between individual heartbeats. Past studies have revealed that a higher HRV, meaning higher variation in time between heartbeats, correlates to improved physical and psychological well-being and quality of life. However, this study aims to determine if a higher HRV also correlates to greater academic success in college. In order to track this data we are utilizing a commercially available wearable device called the Biostrap. This device tracks HRV, heart rate, and several other biometrics including sleep metrics. We are capturing changes in HRV in both a laboratory setting as well as in a free-living situation in order to examine changes between these different environments and relate it to cognition and academic success. Although we have only collected preliminary data to date, we propose to evaluate the relationship between HRV and academic success by measuring end of semester grades in college courses as well as college entry standardized test scores. Our long-term goal is to evaluate the use of wearables and their resulting metrics to help identify strategies to improve learning and cognition in college students.
Biomedical Sciences, Interdisciplinary
