IIT-M researchers identify physiological markers to predict, manage test anxiety

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology IIT Madras have identified measurable physiological indicators that can help pinpoint students most vulnerable to test anxiety paving the way for new targeted interventions that could revolutionise how educational systems approach stress and performance according to officialsThe research has been published in Behavioural Brain Research an international peerreviewed journal publishing studies on the neurobiological basis of behaviour and cognitive processes in humans and animalsThe study sheds light on how the brain and heart interact differently in students who struggle with anxiety during exams offering a scientific basis for early identification and personalised coping strategiesTest anxiety affects an estimated 81 per cent of Indian students according to the National Council of Educational Research and Training NCERT 2022 often impairing academic performance and longterm mental health While some students manage to perform under pressure others fall into avoidance behaviour unable to cope effectivelyAccording to Venkatesh Balasubramanian Department of Engineering Design IIT Madras the research team sought to understand why this happens focusing on objective physiological data that moves beyond the selfreported perceptionsThey discovered that when the brainheart communication network breaks down during stress certain students are more likely to experience heightened anxiety and avoidance revealing a clear biological distinction between adaptive and maladaptive test responses he told PTIThe studys breakthrough lies in integrating two physiological markers Frontal Alpha Asymmetry FAAiquesta brainbased indicator of emotional regulation and Heart Rate Variability HRViquesta measure of the hearts adaptive control Together these signals help identify students predisposed to anxiety he addedBalasubramanian explained that the team found that those with a negative FAA pattern showed significantly weaker heart regulation during stress meaning that their anxiety predisposition could override the hearts ability to stay balanced in an evaluative settingThis nuanced understanding transforms how we view academic stressiquestnot as a purely psychological issue but as one grounded in measurable physiological interactions he saidSwathy Parameswaran research scholar IIT Madras informed that these insights open up immense possibilities for practical applications By training artificial intelligence systems on these psychophysiological markers it could soon become possible to develop noninvasive realtime monitoring tools that alert educators and mental health professionals to students at risk without waiting for visible signs of distressThe findings also support the design of personalised stress management and behavioural interventions that could be embedded within school and university wellness programs offering proactive support rather than reactive treatment she saidAlthough preliminary the study conducted with 52 participants marks a critical step toward integrating neuroscience with educational psychologyThe team now aims to scale the research by involving larger and more diverse participant groups and exploring additional factors like sleep patterns and activity levels to refine predictive models Advanced techniques such as EEGbased connectivity mapping will also be employed to deepen the understanding of heartbrain dynamics under stressThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever