Examining Executive Functions in Medical Students Across Different Types of Study Breaks

New York Institute of Technology

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Executive Function (Cognition)

Treatments: Behavioral: Social Media Study Break; Behavioral: Physical Activity Study Break

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06710678

NYIT IRB-2025-152

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full description

120 people will be recruited. Following consent procedures, those who choose to participate will be randomized to physical intervention, digital intervention or control. 40 will be randomly selected to be in the active physical break group, another 40 participants will selected to be in the passive digital break group, and another 40 will be selected to be in the group without any break.

All participants will complete a demographic form and a baseline Stroop and Sustained Attention to Response Task tests prior to starting the experiment. Next, participants in all three groups will self-study any form of class material for 45 minutes without any breaks or phone usage. At the 45 min mark, the first part of the List Learning Task will be administered to all participants. Following completion, participants in the active physical break and passive digital break groups will begin their 15 min breaks. Those in the former group will engage in 10 min of walking or upper body movement. Those in the latter group will engage in 10 min of social media usage. An additional 5 min will be allotted to allow participants to get settled after their break and use the bathroom if needed before continuing with the study. Participants in the control group will continue studying for 15 min. All participants will not be permitted to converse or interact with each other throughout the break. Once the 15 min break has concluded, all participants will be administered the second part of the List Learning Task. When that is completed, participants will be given the Stroop Test and Sustained Attention to Response Task. A survey will be given to the passive digital break group to determine which social media app(s) were used. All groups will be surveyed about their thoughts regarding their respective type of break or lack thereof and its effect on their studying.

Enrollment: 120 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• have and regularly use some form of social media
• able to perform light physical activity such as walking or upper body movement

Exclusion criteria

• no social media usage
• color blindness (cognitive tests require color perception)
• ADHD or other known conditions that affect attention and/or concentration,
• current concussion
• any condition that prevents upper or lower body physical activity.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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120 participants in 3 patient groups

Social Media Study Break

Experimental group

Description:

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

Treatment:

Behavioral: Social Media Study Break

Physical Activity Study Break

Active Comparator group

Description:

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

Treatment:

Behavioral: Physical Activity Study Break

No study break

No Intervention group

Description:

Medical students will continue to study instead of a break