Open AccessStress response of the autonomic nervous system on skydiving and freefall
Author(s) -
C.C. Grant,
Nico Claassen,
Margaretha Viljoen
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
suid-afrikaanse tydskrif vir natuurwetenskap en tegnologie/die suid-afrikaanse tydskrif vir natuurwetenskap en tegnologie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2222-4173
pISSN - 0254-3486
DOI - 10.4102/satnt.v25i1.142
Subject(s) - medicine , autonomic nervous system , balance (ability) , sympathetic nervous system , nervous system , physical medicine and rehabilitation , heart rate , blood pressure , psychiatry
This study investigated the influence of skydiving and freefall, as well as that of visualisation, on the autonomic nervous system balance. The results showed a shift towards sympathetic dominance in the autonomic nervous system balance during skydiving and freefall. This shift was statistically significant in the inexperienced, but not in the experienced skydivers. A similar autonomic stress response was seen in the laboratory during visualisation of skydiving. Further studies are necessary to ascertain whether a difference exists between the extent to which experienced and inexperienced skydivers can induce the biological stress response through visualisation.