Clinical Research Directory

"Living Low - Training High" Methods and Physiological Responses in Well-trained Swimmers

To overcome the lack of knowledge regarding the impact of different "living low, training high" methods on swimming performance, a 4-week intervention will be carried out to determine and compare the effects of three Repeated Sprints in Hypoxia (RSH) methods with each other and with a control group. Our goal is to characterize and compare the adaptations in swimming performance and in cardiorespiratory, metabolic, and muscle oxygenation responses that can arise after a 4-week training period of RSH and RSN performed in a ski-ergometer.

Brain Connectivity and Corticospinal Excitability in Response to Moderate Hypoxia

Hypoxia, defined as a reduction in the availability of oxygen, induces significant physiological adaptations. While the deleterious effects of severe and chronic hypoxia are well documented, several studies indicate that moderate hypoxia - particularly when administered intermittently - may produce beneficial effects on cardiometabolic health (e.g., improved regulation of blood pressure and better glycaemic control). However, its impact on the dynamics of brain circuits in humans remains relatively underexplored. The present project aims to characterise the effects of continuous and intermittent moderate hypoxia on resting-state brain dynamics in healthy adults. To this end, simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) recordings will be conducted in order to extract functional and haemodynamic markers of brain activity. This project will contribute to a better understanding of the neurophysiological mechanisms associated with hypoxic conditioning and to the assessment of its potential application in innovative therapeutic approaches.