NCT07231536

Boosting Executive Function With Real-class Exercise

Investigating Dual-Model Effects of Acute Pre-Class Physical Exercise on Inhibitory Control: A Cluster-Randomized Classroom Trial

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 240 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Shenzhen University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 9 Years – 13 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The goal of this study is to examine the effects of acute pre-class physical exercise on executive function in real classroom settings. The main question it aims to answer is, "Does acute pre-class exercise enhance executive function compared to sedentary conditions?" Participants were students from primary school assigned by class to engage in one of several pre-class conditions: mentally passive sitting, mentally active sitting, 5-minute physical exercise, or 10-minute physical exercise. A cluster-randomized trial design was used to ensure ecological validity in authentic classroom environments. Cognitive tasks measuring inhibitory control were administered at baseline and pre-/post-class. The results indicate that pre-class exercise leads to greater improvements in inhibitory control than sedentary conditions, suggesting that integrating brief exercise sessions before lessons may be an effective strategy to optimize learning in educational contexts.

Conditions

• Executive Functions (EF)

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Mentally active sitting	Participants remain seated for approximately 10 minutes before class while engaging in a cognitively stimulating activity designed to elicit mental effort without physical exertion.
BEHAVIORAL	5-minute physical exercise	Participants remain seated quietly for approximately 5 minutes before class without performing any structured cognitive or physical tasks. Then they will have 5-minute physical exercise before class.
BEHAVIORAL	10-minute physical exercise	Participants do 10-minute physical exercise before class.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-12-01
• Primary completion: 2026-05-17
• Completion: 2026-06-16
• First posted: 2025-11-17
• Last updated: 2025-11-17