Mindfulness and HIIT for Executive Function in Children

Overseen By Shih-Chun Kao, PhD

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Purdue University

Disqualifiers: Cognitive disorders, Neurological diseases, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 6

60 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Mindfulness and HIIT for Executive Function in Children?

Research shows that mindfulness meditation can improve executive functions like memory and task-switching in children with ADHD, while high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can enhance working memory and physical fitness in children. Combining these approaches may offer benefits for executive function in children. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is high-intensity interval training (HIIT) safe for children?

Research shows that HIIT is generally safe for children and can improve physical fitness and some aspects of brain function, like working memory, without any reported safety concerns. ^{2 3 5 6 7}

How does the Mindfulness and HIIT treatment for executive function in children differ from other treatments?

This treatment is unique because it combines mindfulness (a practice of focusing on the present moment) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT), which are both shown to improve different aspects of executive function and mood in children. Unlike traditional treatments, this approach targets both mental and physical components, potentially offering a more holistic improvement in executive function. ^{1 2 4 8 9}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this randomized cross-over trial is to learn about the effect of a single bout of 20-min mindfulness-based high-intensity interval training (MF-HIIT), MF-only, and HIIT-only in relative to sitting rest on executive function (EF) in 10-12 years old children. The main question it aims to answer are: Question 1: Whether a single bout of 20-min MF-HIIT has larger beneficial effect on EF performance than that following a 20-min session of MF-only and HIIT-only in relative to the sitting rest Question 2: Whether a single bout of 20-min MF-HIIT has a larger beneficial effect on brain functioning, as measured by the N2 and P3 components of event-related potential (ER) during EF performance than that following a 20-min session of MF-only and HIIT-only in relative to the sitting rest Participants will visit the laboratory on 5 separate days (\> 2-day washout between days) in which they have not previously participated in structured physical activities. Participants will complete the testing and/or receive treatments below: Day 1: * Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (KBIT) to assess intelligence quotient * Treadmill-based exercise test to measure cardiorespiratory fitness (maximum oxygen consumption) Days 2-5 * Each day, participants will complete each of the four intervention conditions (MF-HIIT, MF-only, HIIT-only, sitting) * Participants' heart rate and self-reported affect and rating of physical exertion will be measured * Participants will complete a modified flanker task and a task-switching task to assess inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility * Participants will wear an EEG cap to measure the N2 and P3 components of the event-related potential during the inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility performance Researcher will compare the cognitive outcome measures following the MF-HIIT, MF-only, and HIIT-only conditions with the sitting condition to see if MF and HIIT has beneficial effects on children's EF. Further, researcher will compare the cognitive outcome measures following the MF-HIIT compared with MF-only and HIIT-only conditions to see if combining MF with HIIT has greater beneficial effects on children's EF than MF and HIIT alone.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for healthy children aged 10-12 with an IQ of 85 or higher, who can exercise safely and have no cognitive disorders like ADHD or neurological diseases. They should not have engaged in structured physical activities before the lab visits.

Inclusion Criteria

My IQ is 85 or higher.

I can do physical exercises according to a health check.

I am between 10 and 12 years old.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Baseline Assessment

Participants undergo intelligence and cardiorespiratory fitness assessments

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Intervention

Participants complete each of the four intervention conditions (MF-HIIT, MF-only, HIIT-only, sitting) with heart rate and cognitive tasks measured

4 days

4 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for cognitive outcomes and brain function post-intervention

1 week

Treatment Details

Interventions

• HIIT-only
• MF-HIIT
• MF-only

Trial Overview The study tests how a single session of mindfulness-based high-intensity interval training (MF-HIIT), mindfulness alone (MF-only), and high-intensity interval training alone (HIIT-only) affect kids' brain function compared to just sitting. It measures their attention control and ability to switch tasks using EEG.

Participant Groups

Group I: A Single Bout Of Sitting Rest Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: A Single Bout Of Mindful High-Intensity Interval Training (Mindful HIIT) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group III: A Single Bout Of Mindfulness Active Control 1 Intervention

Group IV: A Single Bout Of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Purdue University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

239

Recruited

72,200+

University of Oregon

Collaborator

Trials

91

Recruited

46,700+

Findings from Research

Both low-dose and moderate-dose high-intensity interval training (HIIT) improved executive functions (EF) in college students after 6 weeks, with moderate-dose HIIT showing greater benefits.

After 12 weeks, while both HIIT groups experienced a decline in EF, the moderate-dose group still demonstrated superior performance compared to the low-dose group, suggesting that moderate-dose HIIT is more effective for enhancing cognitive abilities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training on Executive Functions in College Students: Evidence from Different Doses. Wang, X., Liu, Z., Zhang, H., et al.[2023]

References

1. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Differential Impact of Acute Exercise and Mindfulness Meditation on Executive Functioning and Psycho-Emotional Well-Being in Children and Youth With ADHD. [2023]

2. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effect of Acute High-Intensity Interval Training on Executive Function: A Systematic Review. [2021]

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

Effects of High Intensity Interval Training on Executive Function in Children Aged 8-12 Years. [2020]

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

Effects of the FITKids randomized controlled trial on executive control and brain function. [2022]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Systematic review of the acute and chronic effects of high-intensity interval training on executive function across the lifespan. [2021]

6. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training on Executive Functions in College Students: Evidence from Different Doses. [2023]

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

MOVI-daFIT! Intervention: Rationale and design of a cluster randomized controlled trial testing the effects on improving adiposity, cognition, and subclinical atherosclerosis by increasing cardiorespiratory fitness in children. [2021]

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

Testing for an Effect of a Mindfulness Induction on Child Executive Functions. [2020]

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

Improving Executive Function and its Neurobiological Mechanisms through a Mindfulness-Based Intervention: Advances within the Field of Developmental Neuroscience. [2022]