Effects of Bubble Tube Visual Stimulation on Physiological Parameters of Students with Developmental Disabilities ―Focusing on comparative changes in arterial blood oxygen saturation and heart rate over time in students with Prader-Willi syndrome, Down syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and healthy controls, respectively―

Abstract

The present study compared the effects of support using the bubble tube visual stimuli in a dimly lit environment on physiological indicators over time for each of Prader-Willi syndrome, Down syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and healthy students, and noted the usefulness of developmental support. As a result, no change in transcutaneous arterial blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂) was observed in any of the students. However, heart rate was lower (p<0.01) 5 and 10 minutes after the students with Prader-Willi syndrome, Down syndrome, and Autism Spectrum Disorder were placed in a dimly lit environment than in a brightly lit environment before the start of the support, indicating a relaxing effect that led to emotional stability. The developmental usefulness of this study suggests that the acceptance of visual stimuli of the bubble tube in a dimly lit environment has a modifying effect that lowers the threshold of response and increases the responsiveness of the autonomic nervous system. Future work is needed to examine the effects of color and illumination changes under different conditions and to investigate sensory aspects other than visual factors.