Using Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy to Elucidate Neurophysiological Mechanism of Action of Equine-Assisted Services: Proof-of-Concept Study.

Beth A Lanning, Cory M Smith, Cierra Ugale, Elena Nazarenko, William R Marchand

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in International journal of environmental research and public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

0citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Beth A LanningDepartment of Public Health, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76655, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-2505-4799

Cory M SmithDepartment of Health, Human Performance and Recreation, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76655, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-9581-1225

Cierra UgaleDepartment of Health, Human Performance and Recreation, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76655, USA.

Elena NazarenkoWhole Health Service, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, 500 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA.

William R MarchandWhole Health Service, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, 500 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA.

Funding

Horses and Humans Research Foundation 1001663

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Equine-assisted services (EAS) are used for civilian and military trauma survivors to reduce depression and posttraumatic stress symptoms. While early scientific evidence supports the benefits of EAS, the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying these benefits are unknown. The specific aims of this exploratory study were to determine (1) whether functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) neuroimaging can be used to explore neural responses of EAS veteran participants and (2) the correlation between neural responses and psychological outcomes of the participants interacting with equines. Fifteen veterans participated in a 2-day EAS program consisting of four randomized activities. An fNIRS sensor cap was used to measure the oxygenated (O

Indexed as

Equine-Assisted TherapyStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticAdultAnimalsDepressionFemaleHemoglobinsHorsesHumansMaleMiddle AgedProof of Concept StudySpectroscopy, Near-InfraredVeteransHemoglobinsequine-assisted servicesfNIRSneurophysiologypsychological flexibilityPTSDveterans

Identifiers

PMID40869879

DOI10.3390/ijerph22081294

PMCPMC12386777

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata

LicenceCC BY

Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.