The protocol the investigators propose aims to address certain gaps by developing a multimodal paradigm, based on:
* Induction of acute stress via the Maastricht Acute Stress Test (MAST), a standardised protocol recognised for its effectiveness in activating both the HPA axis and the autonomic nervous system.
* A 10-minute auditory exposure to two types of soundscapes (natural vs urban), designed in accordance with ecological standards (recordings taken from real-world environments and featuring representative natural and anthropogenic sound components, with the aim of making the stimulus as close as possible to real-life experiences).
* A battery of synchronised, multimodal measurements, including hormonal measurements (salivary cortisol at 10 time points), continuous autonomic nervous system measurements (HR, HRV, BP), a high-density EEG and analysis via EEG Source Imaging (ESI), a battery of cognitive tests typically sensitive to stress (Continuous Visual Attention Task, N-back, Delay Discounting Task), and a light polysomnography study conducted at home to assess delayed effects on sleep.
This design will enable the investigators to examine, as comprehensively as possible, the dynamics of post-stress recovery across several levels of analysis (biological, cerebral, cognitive and behavioural). It will also enable the investigators to identify the specific effects of the sound environment on each of these levels. By cross-referencing neurophysiological, hormonal and behavioural responses, we hope to document how natural sound environments actively regulate stress and cognition and to explore the mechanisms involved.
This project could pave the way for applications in mental health, preventive neuroscience, acoustic urban planning and non-pharmacological interventions, by providing a rigorous scientific foundation to support recommendations for the design or management of stress in professional, educational or clinical settings.