ChildrenEMBHNCT06808490
Exercise and Endocannabinoids for Brain and Mental Health
A study testing Moderate Intensity Exercise, Light Intensity Stretching and Seated Meditation in people with Children and Adolescents, run by Wayne State University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study will explore how exercise affects brain chemicals called endocannabinoids, which may improve thinking skills and reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and low mood in children and teens aged 9 to 17. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 9 to 17 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Children, Adolescents
- What is being tested?
- Moderate Intensity Exercise, Light Intensity Stretching and Seated Meditation
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 68 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 21 Dec 2021to 18 Mar 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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 9 to 17 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
- Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and available for the duration of the study
- 9-17 years of age
- Adolescent and parent/guardian are English-speaking, as study assessments are in English
- Right-handed
Who cannot join
- Head injury
- Sensory (e.g., hearing) impairment
- Physical (e.g., motor, balance) impairment
- Physical disabilities
- Neurological disorders
- Any condition that would contraindicate blood draws
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Tolan Park Medical Building
Detroit, Michigan, 48201
About this study
This study will explore how exercise affects brain chemicals called endocannabinoids, which may improve thinking skills and reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and low mood in children and teens aged 9 to 17. Participants will take part in a single 30-minute activity session, where they will be randomly assigned to one of three groups:
- Moderate-intensity exercise (walking or running on a treadmill at 50-70% of their maximum heart rate).
- Light stretching (gentle movements at less than 40% of their maximum heart rate).
- Seated meditation (relaxing without movement at less than 30% of their maximum heart rate).
The investigators will measure endocannabinoid levels, thinking skills, and mood before and after the activity to see how these activities affect the brain and emotions.
- Conditions
- Children, Adolescents
- Being tested
- Moderate Intensity Exercise, Light Intensity Stretching, Seated Meditation
- Keywords
- Exercise, Endocannabinoid, Anxiety, Meditation, Stretching
- Medical subject headings
- Motor Activity, Anxiety Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Moderate Intensity ExerciseBehavioural
Participants randomized to the moderate intensity exercise condition will complete a 30 min session on a motor driven treadmill. Participants will complete a 3-minute warm-up at low speed on a treadmill. Speed and incline will be increased in 3-minute increments until moderate-intensity exercise, defined as the goal of participants staying within a target zone of 50-70% AAMHR while briskly walking and/or jogging depending on current fitness status.
Light Intensity StretchingBehavioural
Participants randomized into the light stretching condition will complete a 30-minute video, tailored for 9-17-year-olds. This video leads participants through a series of seated arm, torso, leg, knee and shoulder stretches on a yoga mat. Participants will be monitored throughout the stretching session by a trained research assistant, and HR and perceived exertion will also be measured throughout. The research assistant may make modifications to the poses in real-time to ensure that AAMHR is kept below 40%.
Seated MeditationBehavioural
Participants randomized into the meditation condition will complete a 30-minute video, tailored for 9-17-year-olds. This video leads participants through a seated guided meditation on a yoga mat. This includes a series of breathing, visualization, and body awareness exercises. Participants will be monitored throughout the meditation session by a trained research assistant, and HR and perceived exertion will also be measured throughout, to ensure that AAMHR is kept below 30%.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Moderate Intensity Exercise | Experimental | Not described Receives: Behavioral: Moderate Intensity Exercise |
| Light Intensity Stretching | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Behavioral: Light Intensity Stretching |
| Seated Meditation | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Behavioral: Seated Meditation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Endocannabinoid (eCB) Concentrations
Plasma and saliva samples will be collected immediately before and after exercise or control conditions. Samples will be analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to quantify concentrations of eCBs.
Measured: Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions
Cognitive performance (Dimensional Change Card Sort Test)
The NIH Toolbox® iPad application will be administered to measure executive functioning before and after the exercise or control condition: Dimensional Change Card Sort Test (DCCS).
Measured: Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions
Cognitive performance (Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test)
The NIH Toolbox® iPad application will be administered to measure executive functioning before and after the exercise or control condition: Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test (Flanker).
Measured: Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions
Cognitive performance (Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test)
The NIH Toolbox® iPad application will be administered to measure executive functioning before and after the exercise or control condition: Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test (PCT).
Measured: Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions
Cognitive performance (Picture Sequence Memory Test)
The NIH Toolbox® iPad application will be administered to measure executive functioning before and after the exercise or control condition: Picture Sequence Memory Test (PSMT).
Measured: Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions
Anxiety symptoms
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for children
Measured: Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions
Affect
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) - Child Version
Measured: Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions
Mood state
Mood and Feelings Questionnaire for Children
Measured: Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Feb 2025
- Study start21 Dec 2021
- Primary completion18 Mar 2024
- Study completion18 Mar 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for ChildrenStudies 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
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 68 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Wayne State University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Hilary Marusak, Wayne State University
- Investigators
- Hilary Marusak, Principal investigator, Wayne State UniversityJeanne Barcelona, Principal investigator, Wayne State University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06808490
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB-21-04-3502
- Acronym
- EMBH
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 7 Jan 2025
- Last updated
- 19 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: Undecided where the research team would like to submit the article for publication
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 19 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Exercise and Endocannabinoids for Brain and Mental Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06808490
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- EMBH / IRB-21-04-3502
- Conditions
- Children, Adolescents
- Keywords
- Exercise, Endocannabinoid, Anxiety, Meditation, Stretching
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 68 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Wayne State UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 21 Dec 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 18 Mar 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 18 Mar 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 5 Feb 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study will explore how exercise affects brain chemicals called endocannabinoids, which may improve thinking skills and reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and low mood in children and teens aged 9 to 17. Participants will take part in a single 30-minute activity session, where they will be randomly assigned to one of three groups:
- Moderate-intensity exercise (walking or running on a treadmill at 50-70% of their maximum heart rate).
- Light stretching (gentle movements at less than 40% of their maximum heart rate).
- Seated meditation (relaxing without movement at less than 30% of their maximum heart rate).
The investigators will measure endocannabinoid levels, thinking skills, and mood before and after the activity to see how these activities affect the brain and emotions.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Moderate Intensity Exercise | Experimental | Behavioral: Moderate Intensity Exercise |
| Light Intensity Stretching | Active comparator | Behavioral: Light Intensity Stretching |
| Seated Meditation | Active comparator | Behavioral: Seated Meditation |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 9 to 17 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
- Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and available for the duration of the study
- 9-17 years of age
- Adolescent and parent/guardian are English-speaking, as study assessments are in English
- Right-handed
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Head injury
- Sensory (e.g., hearing) impairment
- Physical (e.g., motor, balance) impairment
- Physical disabilities
- Neurological disorders
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Moderate Intensity ExerciseParticipants randomized to the moderate intensity exercise condition will complete a 30 min session on a motor driven treadmill. Participants will complete a 3-minute warm-up at low speed on a treadmill. Speed and incline will be increased in 3-minute increments until moderate-intensity exercise, defined as the goal of participants staying within a target zone of 50-70% AAMHR while briskly walking and/or jogging depending on current fitness status. | Behavioural | Moderate Intensity Exercise |
| Light Intensity StretchingParticipants randomized into the light stretching condition will complete a 30-minute video, tailored for 9-17-year-olds. This video leads participants through a series of seated arm, torso, leg, knee and shoulder stretches on a yoga mat. Participants will be monitored throughout the stretching session by a trained research assistant, and HR and perceived exertion will also be measured throughout. The research assistant may make modifications to the poses in real-time to ensure that AAMHR is kept below 40%. | Behavioural | Light Intensity Stretching |
| Seated MeditationParticipants randomized into the meditation condition will complete a 30-minute video, tailored for 9-17-year-olds. This video leads participants through a seated guided meditation on a yoga mat. This includes a series of breathing, visualization, and body awareness exercises. Participants will be monitored throughout the meditation session by a trained research assistant, and HR and perceived exertion will also be measured throughout, to ensure that AAMHR is kept below 30%. | Behavioural | Seated Meditation |
Primary outcome
Endocannabinoid (eCB) Concentrations
Time frame: Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions
Plasma and saliva samples will be collected immediately before and after exercise or control conditions. Samples will be analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to quantify concentrations of eCBs.
Cognitive performance (Dimensional Change Card Sort Test)
Time frame: Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions
The NIH Toolbox® iPad application will be administered to measure executive functioning before and after the exercise or control condition: Dimensional Change Card Sort Test (DCCS).
Cognitive performance (Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test)
Time frame: Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions
The NIH Toolbox® iPad application will be administered to measure executive functioning before and after the exercise or control condition: Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test (Flanker).
Cognitive performance (Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test)
Time frame: Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions
The NIH Toolbox® iPad application will be administered to measure executive functioning before and after the exercise or control condition: Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test (PCT).
Cognitive performance (Picture Sequence Memory Test)
Time frame: Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions
The NIH Toolbox® iPad application will be administered to measure executive functioning before and after the exercise or control condition: Picture Sequence Memory Test (PSMT).
Anxiety symptoms
Time frame: Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for children
Affect
Time frame: Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) - Child Version
Mood state
Time frame: Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions
Mood and Feelings Questionnaire for Children
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 19 Aug 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. Undecided where the research team would like to submit the article for publication
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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.
Hilary Marusak principal investigator
Wayne State University
Jeanne Barcelona principal investigator
Wayne State 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 Moderate Intensity Exercise, Light Intensity Stretching and Seated Meditation in people with Children and Adolescents, run by Wayne State University at 1 site in United States.
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 6 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 19 Aug 2026. 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 United States. 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?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
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?
Endocannabinoid (eCB) Concentrations (time frame: Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions). The study lists 8 primary outcomes in all. 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 19 Aug 2026.