Executive FunctionNCT05314634
The Effect of Acute Concurrent Exercise on Executive Function: An Event-Related Potential Study
A study testing concurrent exercise and aerobic exercise in people with Executive Function, run by National Taiwan Normal University at 1 site in Taiwan.
Trial summary
Executive function is a high-level cognition which plays an important role in our life. Meta-analysis study has demonstrated that acute exercise could improve executive function. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 21 to 28 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Executive Function
- What is being tested?
- concurrent exercise and aerobic exercise
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 78 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTaiwan
- Study dates
- 15 Feb 2021to 15 Feb 2022
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 21 to 28 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- no history of psychiatric or neurological disorders
- no history of cardiovascular disease
- normal or corrected to normal vision and normal color perception
- right handed
- 18.5 < BMI < 27
Who cannot join
- 1. Diagnosed with epilepsy
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Taiwan1 site
Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University
Taipei, 106
About this study
Executive function is a high-level cognition which plays an important role in our life. Meta-analysis study has demonstrated that acute exercise could improve executive function. However, it is still unclear whether executive function can be enhanced by the concurrent exercise that combines aerobic and resistance exercise. Moreover, previous studies indicated that acute exercise could increase the concentration of blood lactate which is positive correlated to executive function. It is still unclear whether the effect of acute concurrent exercise on executive function is mediated by blood lactate. Therefore, the purposes of present study are: (1) Measuring the effect of acute concurrent exercise and aerobic exercise on executive function. (2) Measuring whether the effect of acute concurrent exercise on executive function is mediated by blood lactate.
Read the detailed description
Executive function is a high-level cognition which plays an important role in academic performance, career, and interpersonal relationship. Meta-analysis study has demonstrated that acute exercise could improve executive function, and also observed similar positive effect through both aerobic and resistance exercise. However, it is still unclear whether executive function can be enhanced by the concurrent exercise that combines aerobic and resistance exercise. Moreover, previous studies indicated that acute exercise could increase the concentration of blood lactate which is positive correlated to executive function. It is still unclear whether the effect of acute concurrent exercise on executive function is mediated by blood lactate. Therefore, the purposes of present study are: (1) Measuring the effect of acute concurrent exercise and aerobic exercise on executive function. (2) Measuring whether the effect of acute concurrent exercise on executive function is mediated by blood lactate.
- Conditions
- Executive Function
- Being tested
- concurrent exercise, aerobic exercise
- Keywords
- acute exercise, concurrent exercise, cognitive flexibility
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
concurrent exerciseBehavioural
Participants conduct warm up for 5-min, aerobic exercise for 12-min, resistance exercise for 13-min, and 5-min cool down.
aerobic exerciseBehavioural
Participants conduct warm up for 5-min, resistance training for 25-min, and 5-min cool down.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| concurrent exercise group, CE | Experimental | Participants conduct 5-min warm up, 12-min aerobic exercise, 13-min resistance exercise, and 5-min cool down. Receives: Behavioral: concurrent exercise |
| aerobic exercise group, AE | Experimental | Participants conduct 5-min warm up, 25-min aerobic exercise, and 5-min cool down. Receives: Behavioral: aerobic exercise |
| reading control group, RC | No intervention | Participants conduct reading for 35 minutes. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Task Switch Test Response Times
The shifting aspect of executive function was assessed using a computerised task-switching test. Each participant (N=78) completed 384 trials across six blocks (64 trials per block). The test consisted of two types of cognitive tasks: (1) number magnitude judgment (greater/less than 5) for digits 1-9 presented in solid-line squares, and (2) odd/even judgment for numbers presented in dotted-line squares. Performance was analysed by calculating each participant's mean response time (milliseconds) under four conditions:
Homogeneous condition: Blocks where participants performed the same task repeatedly (Blocks 1 \& 2, e.g., AAAA or BBBB) Heterogeneous condition: Blocks where tasks were mixed (Blocks 3-6, e.g., AABBAA) Non-switch trials: Consecutive trials of the same task type within heterogeneous blocks (e.g., AA or BB) Switch trials: Trials where the task changed from the previous trial within heterogeneous blocks (e.g., AB or BA) Lower response time represents better task perform
Measured: 30 minutes
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted6 Apr 2022
- Study start15 Feb 2021
- Primary completion15 Aug 2021
- Study completion15 Feb 2022
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Other trials for Executive FunctionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants were randomly assigned to three group, namely the concurrent exercise group (CE), the aerobic exercise group (AE), and the reading control group (RC). Participants in CE groups were asked to finish 5 min warm-up, 12 min aerobic exercise, 13 min resistance exercise, and 5 min cool down. Participants in the AE group were asked to finish 5 min warm-up, 25 min aerobic exercise, and 5 min cool down. Participants in RC group were required to finish 35 min reading. All groups took a 30 min cognitive test before and after the intervention. The blood lactate were collected before, 17 minutes after, and after the intervention.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 78 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- National Taiwan Normal University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Yu-Kai Chang, National Taiwan Normal University
- Investigators
- Yu-Kai Chang, Ph.D., Study director, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05314634
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- PACNL_rueihongli_CE
- Status last verified
- Feb 2025
- First submitted
- 29 Mar 2022
- Last updated
- 20 Feb 2025
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Feb 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Acute Concurrent Exercise on Executive Function: An Event-Related Potential Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05314634
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- PACNL_rueihongli_CE
- Conditions
- Executive Function
- Keywords
- acute exercise, concurrent exercise, cognitive flexibility
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 78 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- National Taiwan Normal UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Feb 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Aug 2021 (actual)
- Study completion
- 15 Feb 2022 (actual)
- First posted
- 6 Apr 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 20 Feb 2025
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Executive function is a high-level cognition which plays an important role in our life. Meta-analysis study has demonstrated that acute exercise could improve executive function. However, it is still unclear whether executive function can be enhanced by the concurrent exercise that combines aerobic and resistance exercise. Moreover, previous studies indicated that acute exercise could increase the concentration of blood lactate which is positive correlated to executive function. It is still unclear whether the effect of acute concurrent exercise on executive function is mediated by blood lactate. Therefore, the purposes of present study are: (1) Measuring the effect of acute concurrent exercise and aerobic exercise on executive function. (2) Measuring whether the effect of acute concurrent exercise on executive function is mediated by blood lactate.
Detailed description
Executive function is a high-level cognition which plays an important role in academic performance, career, and interpersonal relationship. Meta-analysis study has demonstrated that acute exercise could improve executive function, and also observed similar positive effect through both aerobic and resistance exercise. However, it is still unclear whether executive function can be enhanced by the concurrent exercise that combines aerobic and resistance exercise. Moreover, previous studies indicated that acute exercise could increase the concentration of blood lactate which is positive correlated to executive function. It is still unclear whether the effect of acute concurrent exercise on executive function is mediated by blood lactate. Therefore, the purposes of present study are: (1) Measuring the effect of acute concurrent exercise and aerobic exercise on executive function. (2) Measuring whether the effect of acute concurrent exercise on executive function is mediated by blood lactate.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- Participants were randomly assigned to three group, namely the concurrent exercise group (CE), the aerobic exercise group (AE), and the reading control group (RC). Participants in CE groups were asked to finish 5 min warm-up, 12 min aerobic exercise, 13 min resistance exercise, and 5 min cool down. Participants in the AE group were asked to finish 5 min warm-up, 25 min aerobic exercise, and 5 min cool down. Participants in RC group were required to finish 35 min reading. All groups took a 30 min cognitive test before and after the intervention. The blood lactate were collected before, 17 minutes after, and after the intervention.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| concurrent exercise group, CE | Experimental | Behavioral: concurrent exerciseParticipants conduct 5-min warm up, 12-min aerobic exercise, 13-min resistance exercise, and 5-min cool down. |
| aerobic exercise group, AE | Experimental | Behavioral: aerobic exerciseParticipants conduct 5-min warm up, 25-min aerobic exercise, and 5-min cool down. |
| reading control group, RC | No intervention | –Participants conduct reading for 35 minutes. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 21 to 28 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- no history of psychiatric or neurological disorders
- no history of cardiovascular disease
- normal or corrected to normal vision and normal color perception
- right handed
- 18.5 < BMI < 27
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- 1. Diagnosed with epilepsy
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| concurrent exerciseParticipants conduct warm up for 5-min, aerobic exercise for 12-min, resistance exercise for 13-min, and 5-min cool down. | Behavioural | concurrent exercise group, CE |
| aerobic exerciseParticipants conduct warm up for 5-min, resistance training for 25-min, and 5-min cool down. | Behavioural | aerobic exercise group, AE |
Primary outcome
Task Switch Test Response Times
Time frame: 30 minutes
The shifting aspect of executive function was assessed using a computerised task-switching test. Each participant (N=78) completed 384 trials across six blocks (64 trials per block). The test consisted of two types of cognitive tasks: (1) number magnitude judgment (greater/less than 5) for digits 1-9 presented in solid-line squares, and (2) odd/even judgment for numbers presented in dotted-line squares. Performance was analysed by calculating each participant's mean response time (milliseconds) under four conditions: Homogeneous condition: Blocks where participants performed the same task repeatedly (Blocks 1 \& 2, e.g., AAAA or BBBB) Heterogeneous condition: Blocks where tasks were mixed (Blocks 3-6, e.g., AABBAA) Non-switch trials: Consecutive trials of the same task type within heterogeneous blocks (e.g., AA or BB) Switch trials: Trials where the task changed from the previous trial within heterogeneous blocks (e.g., AB or BA) Lower response time represents better task perform
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 Feb 2025.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Yu-Kai Chang, Ph.D. study director
Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing concurrent exercise and aerobic exercise in people with Executive Function, run by National Taiwan Normal University at 1 site in Taiwan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Feb 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Taiwan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 20 Feb 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Task Switch Test Response Times (time frame: 30 minutes). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Feb 2025.