Ned's Data

Using a skull cap to measure EEG alpha waves in the Prefrontal Cortex, an ECG monitor to measure Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and a saliva analyser to measure Cortisol Levels, Ned gathered the following date about Paula during the race.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) – The beat-to-beat variation in heartbeat, used as a biomarker of ANS activity associated with stress.

• High HRV means parasympathetic  response dominance – promotes relaxation, digestion, sleep and recovery

• Low HRV means dominance by sympathetic response – fight or flight side of the nervous system, associated with stress, overtraining and inflammation

 

Cortisol Levels – Cortisol is a steroid hormone that induces stress, high cortisol levels indicates high stress.

 

Pre Frontal Cortex (Left) – High alpha wave activity in the left hemisphere indicates positive emotions.

 

Pre Frontal Cortex (Right) – High alpha wave activity in the right hemisphere indicates negative emotions.

 

T-Tests & Effect Size Analysis

 

Heart Rate Variability & Prefrontal Cortex (right)

• H0 – High alpha wave activity in the right hemisphere of the Prefrontal Cortex has no effect on Heart Rate Variability

• H1 – High alpha wave activity in the right hemisphere of the Prefrontal Cortex causes Heart Rate Variability to be low (quick)

 

Prefrontal Cortex (right)                              Heart Rate Variability

Mean = 7.775                                                  Mean = 0.4425                                                  Probability = 0.0001

Standard Deviation = 4.7652                        Standard Deviation = 0.1117                            Effect Size = 0.756

 

As p is less than 0.05 we must reject the null and accept the alternative hypothesis that high alpha waves in the right hemisphere of the Prefrontal Cortex does cause Heart Rate Variability to be low. The effect size analysis supports this hypothesis with a size reading of 0.756 indicating a large association between the variables.

 

 

Heart Rate Variability & Prefrontal Cortex (left)

• H0 – High alpha wave activity in the left hemisphere of the Prefrontal Cortex has no effect on Heart Rate Variability

• H1 – High alpha wave activity in the left hemisphere of the Prefrontal Cortex causes Heart Rate Variability to be high (slow)

 

Prefrontal Cortex (left)                                 Heart Rate Variability

Mean = 7.4667                                                Mean = 0.4425                                             Probability = 0.0001

 

Standard Deviation = 4.3683                        Standard Deviation = 0.1117                        Effect Size = 0.75

As p is less than 0.05 we must reject the null and accept the alternative hypothesis that high alpha waves in the left hemisphere of the Prefrontal Cortex does cause Heart Rate Variability to be high. The effect size analysis supports this hypothesis with a size reading of 0.75 indicating a large association between the variables.

 

 

Cortisol Levels & Prefrontal Cortex (right)

• H0 – High alpha wave activity in the right hemisphere of the Prefrontal Cortex has no effect on Cortisol levels

• H1 – High alpha wave activity in the right hemisphere of the Prefrontal Cortex causes Cortisol levels to be high

 

Prefrontal Cortex (right)                              Cortisol Levels

Mean = 7.775                                                  Mean = 0.5592                                              Probability = 0.0001

Standard Deviation = 4.7652                        Standard Deviation = 0.1496                        Effect Size = 0.73

 

As p is less than 0.05 we must reject the null and accept the alternative hypothesis that high alpha waves in the right hemisphere of the Prefrontal Cortex causes Cortisol levels to be high. The effect size analysis supports this hypothesis with a size reading of 0.73 indicating a large association between the variables.

 

 

Cortisol Levels & Prefrontal Cortex (left)

• H0 – High alpha wave activity in the left hemisphere of the Prefrontal Cortex has no effect on Cortisol levels

• H1 – High alpha wave activity in the left hemisphere of the Prefrontal Cortex causes Cortisol levels to be low

 

Prefrontal Cortex (left)                                 Cortisol Levels

Mean = 7.4667                                                Mean = 0.5592                                                  Probability = 0.0001

Standard Deviation = 4.3683                        Standard Deviation = 0.1496                            Effect Size = 0.745

 

As p is less than 0.05 we must reject the null and accept the alternative hypothesis that high alpha waves in the left hemisphere of the Prefrontal Cortex causes Cortisol levels to be low. The effect size analysis supports this hypothesis with a size reading of 0.745 indicating a large association between the variables.