Readiness for academic load assessment using HRV analysis

Aim. The paper aims to investigate readiness for academic load among students using heart rate variability data. Materials and methods. 193 male students of the university of physical education and sport aged from 19 to 21 years took part in the experiment. Readiness for academic load was assessed one month before exams. The students were subjected to a 5-minute cognitive load with simultaneous heart rate and R-R interval recording. A comparative analysis of HRV data and academic success was performed. Statistical processing of the data obtained was carried out in STATISTICA 6.0. Results. At the beginning of the experiment, the characteristics of the respiratory system at rest and hemodynamics data were obtained. Heart rate variability data indicated the optimal functioning of the cardiovascular system under cognitive load. Conclusion. A comprehensive HRV analysis revealed that 56% of students were excited and 18% experienced mental stress. Therefore, 74% of students experienced changes in the autonomic nervous system that were adequate to their cognitive load. The use of HRV analysis with simultaneous determination of a functional class before exams allows to measure readiness for academic load in students and provides prospects for the development of health-saving technologies.