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Heliox for Breathing Difficulty and Thinking Skills

This study is looking at how breathing a special gas mixture called Heliox might help people who experience difficulty breathing and problems with their thinking skills. Warfighters often face situations that make breathing harder, which can affect their ability to think clearly and make quick decisions. Researchers want to see if Heliox, which makes breathing easier, can reduce the feeling of breathlessness and improve cognitive function (thinking skills). You might be able to join if you are between 18 and 40 years old, speak English, exercise regularly, and have healthy lungs. The study will measure changes in your performance on a thinking test and how you perceive your breathing difficulty. The study is currently unclear on its status and plans to enroll 15 participants.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 15 participants. It involves breathing Heliox inspirate during the first phase.
What's involved
You will undergo breathing tasks, each lasting approximately 60 minutes, on Day 1. Before and after each task, your thinking skills and perception of breathing difficulty will be measured.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your thinking skills and perception of breathing difficulty will be measured before and after each breathing task on Day 1.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07424014

The Role of Heliox in Respiratory Control

Recruiting
PHASE4Ages 18–40InterventionalBasic science
Indiana University
~15 participants
Updated 2026-03-12 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Heliox inspirate

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change in Stroop Color-Word Test Time Performance
Measured over Before and after each Day 1 breathing task (approximately 60 minutes in duration)
+3 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Work of Breathing

Explore related trials

Cognitive PerformanceDyspnea PerceptionInspiratory ResistanceWork of Breathing

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Indiana1

Who to contact

Timothy D Mickleborough, PhD
[email protected]
812-855-0753
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Between the ages of 18-40 years old.
English speaking and reading.
Self-reported weekly activity of at least 120 minutes/week of high intensity exercise for the previous 2 years.
Normal pulmonary function assessed by a resting forced expiratory volume in 1 second over forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) \> 75% of predicted.
Normal cognitive function assessed using the Montreal cognitive function test \[18\].
Body mass index (BMI) ≤ 35 kg/m2.
Females with a regular menstrual cycle that ranges from 21-35 days (eumenorrhea)

Exclusion

History of smoking or recreational smoking, cardiovascular disease, renal disease, pulmonary disease (including asthma or exercise-induced asthma), neurological disease, and metabolic disease.
Are pregnant or could possibly be pregnant by self-report.
Are color blind.
Known allergy or hypersensitivity latex.
Take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, stimulant medication, antibiotics, and chronically consume pain medication (Aleve, Tylenol, etc.).
Resting blood pressure of \> 130mmHg systolic or 90 mmHg diastolic and/or resting pulse rate of \> 100 bpm.
Females with irregular menstrual cycles (oligomenorrhea) that ranges from 36-90 days, and females with the absence of a menstrual cycle (amenorrhea).
Taking birth control for the sole purpose of period cessation (eg., Mirena IUD)

What this trial measures

  • Change in Stroop Color-Word Test Time PerformanceBefore and after each Day 1 breathing task (approximately 60 minutes in duration)

    Time performance on the Stroop Color-Word Test (min:sec) will be measured every 10 minutes during each breathing task.

  • Change in Stroop Color-Word Test Error PerformanceBefore and after each Day 1 breathing task (approximately 60 minutes in duration)

    The number of errors on the Stroop Color-Word Test will be measured will be measured every 10 minutes during each breathing task.

  • Change in Perception of Dyspnea IntensityBefore and after each Day 1 breathing task (approximately 60 minutes in duration)

    Participants will rate perception of dyspnea (breathing) intensity on a visual analog scale (VAS) every 5 minutes during each breathing task. The participant will draw a vertical marker line on a horizontal line (100mm),indicating their breathing perception from "not noticeable" (0mm) to "maximal imaginable intensity" (100mm).

  • Change in Perception of Dyspnea UnpleasantnessBefore and after each Day 1 breathing task (approximately 60 minutes in duration)

    Participants will rate perception of dyspnea (breathing) unpleasantness on a visual analog scale (VAS) every 5 minutes during each breathing task. The participant will draw a vertical marker line on a horizontal line(100mm), indicating their breathing perception from "not unpleasant"(0mm) to "maximal imaginable unpleasantness" (100mm).