The Effect of Different Physical Activity Strategy on Cognitive Efficiency and Mental Fatigue Resistance

Lithuanian Sports University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Healthy Adults

Treatments: Other: 8 hours simulated mental workday; Other: Combined work model; Other: Moderate intensity aerobic activity

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07130825

LithuananianSportsU-23

Details and patient eligibility

About

The main aim of this biomedical study is to determine the effect of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, before and after an 8-hour workday and a combined work model, on the performance and efficiency of cognitive functions during mental work.

There are lack of previous studies analysing the effects of different physical activity strategies on cognitive efficiency and investigating mental fatigue resistance. Limited research in this area shows that the mechanism of the effect of physical activity on mental fatigue resistance is still unclear. This research will aim to investigate different physical activity strategies, such as combined work model and moderate intensity physical activity before and after office workday, and their impact on a mental and emotional fatigue, cognitive efficiency, sympathetic and parasympathetic systems and metabolic indicators during mentally demanding 8 h workday.

Full description

Prolonged sedentary behavior and sustained cognitive workload during typical office workdays contribute significantly to the onset of acute mental fatigue (Kunasegaran et al., 2023). This condition is linked to physiological mechanisms such as reduced cerebral blood flow, diminished glucose availability and transport to active brain regions (García et al., 2021; Kennedy & Scholey, 2000), as well as hormonal alterations (Miyashita & Williams, 2006; Wiehler et al., 2022). These changes negatively impact cognitive efficiency, motivation, and overall brain function (Kunasegaran et al., 2023; Tran et al., 2020). While existing evidence supports the positive influence of physical activity on physical and mental health (Calderwood et al., 2021; Jacquet et al., 2021), there remains a lack of research specifically examining how different physical activity strategies influence cognitive efficiency and resistance to mental fatigue.

This study aims to address this gap by investigating the effects of various physical activity interventions, including a combined work-exercise model and moderate-intensity aerobic exercise performed either before or after an 8-hour mentally demanding workday. Outcomes will focus on mental and emotional fatigue, cognitive efficiency, autonomic nervous system activity (sympathetic and parasympathetic balance), and metabolic responses. By evaluating these parameters, the study seeks to clarify the potential of targeted physical activity strategies to enhance mental fatigue resistance and support cognitive performance in occupational settings. The findings are expected to contribute valuable insight into the development of effective workplace interventions that promote employee well-being, productivity, and resilience.

Enrollment: 60 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• BMI from 18.5 to 24.9 kg/ m2;
• No chronic non-communicable diseases;
• No mental illnesses or disorders;
• No cancer and no chemotherapy in the last 5 years;
• No hearing impairment;
• No smoking;
• No psychotropic substances;
• Heart rate (HR) about 60 bpm at rest;
• Unimpaired color vision;
• Unimpaired or corrected vision;
• Systolic blood pressure from 90 to 139 mmHg, and diastolic - from 50 to 89 mmHg at rest.

Exclusion criteria

• mental, oncological, metabolic, cardiovascular, skeletal, muscular, respiratory system disorders or diseases, impaired color vision.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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60 participants in 3 patient groups

Control

Experimental group

Description:

Healthy young subjects will participate in research "control" condition attending 8 h simulated working day. During simulated working day subjects will perform cognitive tasks (ANAM4, version 4; Vista Life Science, Norman, OK, USA) for 8 times (1 session 11 tests about 45 min). The effect of a mental workday on cognitive function indicators will be evaluated. Same participants will participate in 3 research trials (control, aerobic activity and combined work model).

Treatment:

Other: 8 hours simulated mental workday

Aerobic activity

Experimental group

Description:

Healthy young subjects will participate in research "aerobic activity" condition attending 8 h simulated working day. Subjects will cycle 30 min on a veloergometer in a 50 % of maximal capacity before the cognitive tasks and after them (before and after simulated 8 h workday). During simulated working day subjects will perform cognitive tasks (ANAM4, version 4; Vista Life Science, Norman, OK, USA) for 8 times (1 session 11 tests about 45 min). The effect of a moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity before and after 8 hours of a mental workday will be evaluated. Same participants will participate in 3 research trials (control, aerobic activity and combined work model).

Treatment:

Other: Moderate intensity aerobic activity

Other: 8 hours simulated mental workday

Combined work model

Experimental group

Description:

Healthy young subjects will participate in research "combined work model" condition attending 8 h simulated working day. Subjects will perform cognitive tasks applying combined work model, which means that participants will be changing their positions from sitting on a balance ball to standing while performing cognitive tasks. During simulated working day subjects will perform cognitive tasks (ANAM4, version 4; Vista Life Science, Norman, OK, USA). The effect of a the combined work model on cognitive functions indicators during a simulated 8 h mental working day will be evaluated. Same participants will participate in 3 research trials (control, aerobic activity and combined work model).

Treatment:

Other: Combined work model

Other: 8 hours simulated mental workday