Human Research Institute (Weiz, A) / May 21, 2014
Objective
Do concrete spaces with and without Pneumatit have different effects on the human organism?
– This question was to be scientifically examined in an experimental comparative study.
Assignment
The Human Research Institute for Health Technology and Prevention Research GmbH (HRI) in Weiz / Austria was commissioned to conduct the study. The HRI, led by Univ. Prof. Dr. Maximilian Moser, is a leading research and development institution in its field. For decades, among other things, methods for measuring cardio-vegetative regulation using heart rate variability (HRV) have been successfully developed and applied. Corresponding results have been presented many times in international publications.
Method
In two specially constructed, otherwise identical concrete spaces with or without Pneumatit, human physiology was observed. Two different, complementary measurement methods were used: (1) Cardio-vegetative regulation (heart rate variability, HRV): Heart, circulation, respiration, metabolism, and the autonomic nervous system work closely together in a complex regulatory network. Since the heart rhythm plays a central role in this, the overall stress is reflected in the temporal structures of the heart rate. The vagus nerve plays a special role in this and ensures the health-maintaining flexibility of the heartbeat. The extent of HRV expresses the regulatory capability of the organism, documenting its tension states, the ability to recover, and the biological effort for activities during the measurement. The HRV method is a well-validated, scientifically recognized measurement method with numerous reports in top international journals such as Science, Nature, Lancet, Circulation, European Heart Journal. Since the Pneumatit® test was a first-time, exploratory attempt, a broad spectrum of a total of 21 HRV parameters was determined. The data were obtained using an ECG recorder (ChronoCord®) specialized in the highly accurate recording of heartbeat intervals, and calculations followed the recommendations of the “Task Force of the European Society of Cardiology.” (2) Psychometry: Each test subject completed a total of 7 standardized questionnaires for each space from the beginning to the end, which recorded well-being (MDBF), subjective sleepiness (KSS), stress levels (KAB), and perceived space effects (SD).
Implementation
Two identical concrete spaces with inner dimensions of 250 cm width, 248 cm length, 200 cm height, and 20 cm wall thickness were set up side by side at a largely undisturbed location on an open field, made from prefabricated elements. One room was made of conventional concrete, and the other of Pneumatit® concrete. The rooms had a 70 cm wide open entrance, which could be covered with a light cotton curtain (voile) for protection against insects, and no window. The interior furnishings were identical. Measurements were taken between August 6th and 30th, 2013 on 53 healthy subjects, 29 men and 24 women, aged between 18 and 54 years (average age of men 38.3, women 40.2 years).
Each stage of the construction of the spaces was carried out by a different company and individuals. Throughout the entire duration of the experiment, neither the experimenters nor the test subjects were aware of which room was made of concrete with or without Pneumatit (triple-blinding: the test subjects, the measurement leaders, and the evaluators were blinded). The information necessary for identification was recorded by the respective companies before the start of the experiment, sealed notarially in 3 separate envelopes, and only opened after the calculations and evaluations had been carried out, again under notarial supervision. The measuring process began with the attachment of the high-precision EKG recorder and a tuning phase of about 10 minutes at a neutral, quiet location outside of the two rooms. Afterwards, each test subject spent a good hour in each room, on two consecutive days at the same time: on one day in one room, on the other day in the other room. Which test subject started with which room was determined by the HRI using a random selection system and was communicated to the measurement team each week. In each concrete room, two 15-minute rest periods were undergone, (1) at the beginning and (2) at the end. In between, a scientifically standardized 33-minute sustained attention test was completed on a laptop (VIGIL, Vienna Test System). Weather conditions were recorded using various measurements and were taken into account in the evaluation. Measurement days were from Tuesday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., with a two-hour lunch break.
Results
As expected, going through the test scenario in both sample spaces was tiring: The raw concrete spaces were narrow and completely enclosed. Moreover, the monotonous vigilance test on the screen required a high level of attention during half an hour. As expected, the performance of the test subjects in both spaces was the same. However, with both measurement methods, it was shown that the room with Pneumatit-concrete has various advantages for the person who rests or works in it.
In four experience criteria (psychometry), the test subjects felt better in the Pneumatit space. They were able to significantly better ward off “drowsiness”, feeling much more tired in conventional concrete than in Pneumatit® concrete.
Their well-being also remained better: In the Pneumatit room, the “good mood” was significantly better maintained, only slightly decreasing towards the end of the experiment. In the normal concrete space, however, it already dropped during rest phase 1 and then fell sharply towards the end. The experience of “alertness” and “calmness” also tended to decrease more strongly in the conventional space. Not a single partial result of psychometry spoke in favor of the space with conventional concrete. The spaces themselves were also perceived differently. The test subjects described the Pneumatit room as “more open”, “weaker”, and tendentially “more generous”, while the normal concrete room was described as “more closed”, “stronger,” and tendentially “more economical”. These subjective results were supported by the physiological measurement results (HRV). Various parameters of vagus activity, important for health and well-being, were more favorable in the Pneumatit room, and breathing slowed down during the rest phase after the test. This indicates a greater vegetative relaxation potential after one-sided stress. As this is a pilot study, HRI recommends replication for definitive confirmation of the results. Also, with the HRV method, none of the examined parameters spoke in favor of the room made of conventional concrete.
Conclusion: The test subjects felt better in the Pneumatit® space. They consumed fewer biophysiological resources (life forces) for the same performance than in the space made of conventional concrete and remained in a more relaxed state.
Open PDF HRV-experiment: original report (German)