Study Breaks for Executive Function

Overseen By Joanne DiFrancisco-Donoghue, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: New York Institute of Technology

Disqualifiers: No social media, Color blindness, ADHD, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

120 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This study aims to expand on previous findings and compare the effects of an active break (ten minutes of walking or upper body movement), a digital break (ten minutes of phone use), and no break on memory and attention in medical students after a prolonged period of studying. The List Learning Task, Stroop Test, and Sustained Attention to Response Task will be administered to measure memory, executive function, and attention, respectively. Information on how different types of breaks affect memory and attention may prompt medical students to be more mindful and intentional of the way they spend their time in between studying.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Physical Activity Study Break for improving executive function?

Research shows that physical activity can have a small to moderate positive effect on executive function, especially in sedentary individuals, by improving skills like inhibitory control and working memory. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is taking study breaks involving physical activity or digital activities safe for humans?

Research on physical activity interventions, which can include study breaks, generally shows they are safe for humans. These activities are often linked to improved cognitive functions like memory and executive function, especially in sedentary individuals and older adults, without reported safety concerns. ^{1 5 6 7 8}

How does the treatment in the Study Breaks for Executive Function trial differ from other treatments for executive function?

The treatment in the Study Breaks for Executive Function trial is unique because it likely involves physical activity, which has been shown to improve executive function, especially in sedentary individuals. Unlike other treatments that may focus on medication or cognitive exercises, this approach emphasizes regular physical activity sessions, which have been found to enhance specific aspects of executive function like inhibitory control and working memory. ^{1 6 7 9 10}

Research Team

Amber Sousa, PhD

Principal Investigator

NYIT COM

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for medical students who regularly use social media and can do light physical activities like walking. It's not for those without social media usage, color blindness, attention disorders like ADHD, current concussion, or conditions preventing physical activity.

Inclusion Criteria

Have and regularly use some form of social media

I can do light activities like walking or moving my arms.

Exclusion Criteria

No social media usage

Color blindness (cognitive tests require color perception)

ADHD or other known conditions that affect attention and/or concentration

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Baseline Assessment

Participants complete a demographic form and baseline Stroop and Sustained Attention to Response Task tests

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Intervention

Participants engage in self-study followed by a break or continued study, and complete cognitive tasks

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are surveyed about their thoughts regarding their respective type of break or lack thereof and its effect on their studying

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Physical Activity Study Break
• Social Media Study Break

Trial Overview The study compares the impact of different study breaks on memory and attention: an active break with walking or movement, a digital break using phones, and no break at all. Tests will measure how these breaks affect executive functions after studying.

Participant Groups

Group I: Social Media Study Break Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Medical students will engage in a 10 minute social media study break

Group II: Physical Activity Study Break Active Control 1 Intervention

Medical student will engage in a 10 minute light physical activity study break

Group III: No study break Active Control 1 Intervention

Medical students will continue to study instead of a break

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

New York Institute of Technology

Lead Sponsor

Trials

56

Recruited

2,300+

Findings from Research

A meta-analysis of 13 randomized controlled trials involving 752 sedentary individuals found that physical activity has a small to moderate beneficial effect on executive function (EF), particularly enhancing inhibitory control and working memory.

Longer interventions (over 12 weeks) and sessions lasting 45 minutes or more were more effective in improving EF, especially in older adults (60 years and above), suggesting that both duration and intensity of physical activity play crucial roles in cognitive benefits.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physical activity on executive function in sedentary individuals: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Tian, S., Liang, Z., Qiu, F., et al.[2023]

A study involving 99 cognitively normal older adults found that both high-intensity and moderate-intensity exercise significantly improved cardiorespiratory fitness compared to a control group, indicating the effectiveness of exercise in enhancing physical health.

Despite the improvements in fitness, the study did not find significant differences in overall executive function scores between the exercise groups and the control group, although increases in cardiorespiratory fitness were positively associated with improvements in specific cognitive areas like Updating/Working Memory and Verbal Generativity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Randomized Controlled Trial of High-Intensity Exercise and Executive Functioning in Cognitively Normal Older Adults. Frost, NJ., Weinborn, M., Gignac, GE., et al.[2021]

This study will investigate the effects of a 24-week resistance exercise program on executive function in 90 cognitively normal older adults aged 65-80, aiming to determine if physical exercise can improve cognitive decline associated with aging.

The trial will assess various outcomes, including changes in brain structure, function, and molecular biomarkers, to understand the mechanisms by which resistance exercise may benefit cognitive health and potentially reduce dementia risk.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Active Gains in brain Using Exercise During Aging (AGUEDA): protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Solis-Urra, P., Molina-Hidalgo, C., García-Rivero, Y., et al.[2023]

Regular physical exercise, particularly aerobic and mind-body exercises, positively impacts executive function in cognitively healthy adults aged 60 and older, improving working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control.

Interventions lasting more than 13 weeks showed significant improvements in working memory and cognitive flexibility, while those over 26 weeks enhanced inhibitory control, highlighting the importance of exercise duration for cognitive benefits.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of physical exercise on executive function in cognitively healthy older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials: Physical exercise for executive function. Xiong, J., Ye, M., Wang, L., et al.[2021]

A systematic review of nine studies involving 547 sedentary adults aged 50 and older found that aerobic physical activity significantly improves memory, with a large effect size (g = 0.80), suggesting it can help delay cognitive decline.

The same review indicated a smaller but still positive effect on executive function (g = 0.37), highlighting the potential benefits of aerobic exercise for overall cognitive health in older adults without cognitive impairment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Aerobic physical activity to improve memory and executive function in sedentary adults without cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Hoffmann, CM., Petrov, ME., Lee, RE.[2021]

Research on how physical activity affects executive function is still developing, highlighting the need for clearer definitions and methodologies in studies.

The commentary encourages researchers to justify their choice of executive function measures and consider using multiple assessments to better understand the relationship between physical activity and cognitive performance.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of physical activity on executive function: a brief commentary on definitions, measurement issues, and the current state of the literature. Etnier, JL., Chang, YK.[2022]

In a study of 18 young adult college students, better executive function was linked to significantly less sedentary behavior over an 8-week period, with participants showing 91.8 fewer minutes of sedentary time for every 25% increase in executive function performance.

This suggests that improving executive function may be a useful strategy for reducing sedentary behavior in young adults, highlighting the potential for cognitive training to influence lifestyle habits.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Executive function influences sedentary behavior: A longitudinal study. Loprinzi, PD., Nooe, A.[2020]

In a study involving 123 participants across different age groups, physical activity was found to significantly improve inhibition (a type of executive function) specifically in older adults (ages 71-81).

The improvement in inhibition was linked to cardiovascular fitness, suggesting that being physically active can enhance cognitive functions in aging individuals through better heart and lung health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of physical activity on executive functions in aging: a selective effect on inhibition among old adults. Boucard, GK., Albinet, CT., Bugaiska, A., et al.[2022]

In a study of 75 older adults, those who were less sedentary demonstrated better executive function (EF) and memory, with faster Stroop test times indicating superior cognitive performance.

Sedentary behaviors, such as watching TV and napping, were linked to poorer EF and memory performance, suggesting that reducing sedentary time may benefit cognitive abilities in older adults.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The association between sedentary behavior and cognitive ability in older adults. Coelho, L., Hauck, K., McKenzie, K., et al.[2020]

In a study involving 26 healthy older adults, three types of sitting exercises (stepping, stretching, and finger movement) were found to significantly improve executive functioning compared to a resting control condition.

Among the exercises, finger movement was particularly effective, showing the greatest reduction in Stroop interference scores, indicating its strong positive impact on cognitive performance.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of acute exercise in the sitting position on executive function evaluated by the Stroop task in healthy older adults. Abe, T., Fujii, K., Hyodo, K., et al.[2020]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physical activity on executive function in sedentary individuals: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. [2023]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Randomized Controlled Trial of High-Intensity Exercise and Executive Functioning in Cognitively Normal Older Adults. [2021]

3. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Active Gains in brain Using Exercise During Aging (AGUEDA): protocol for a randomized controlled trial. [2023]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of physical exercise on executive function in cognitively healthy older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials: Physical exercise for executive function. [2021]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Aerobic physical activity to improve memory and executive function in sedentary adults without cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis. [2021]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of physical activity on executive function: a brief commentary on definitions, measurement issues, and the current state of the literature. [2022]

7. Iran pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Executive function influences sedentary behavior: A longitudinal study. [2020]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of physical activity on executive functions in aging: a selective effect on inhibition among old adults. [2022]

9. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The association between sedentary behavior and cognitive ability in older adults. [2020]

10. Japan pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of acute exercise in the sitting position on executive function evaluated by the Stroop task in healthy older adults. [2020]