Neurophysiological Mechanisms of Physical Activity Interventions in Unique Environments

NCT ID: NCT03501953

Last Updated: 2019-08-21

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: WITHDRAWN
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2019-04-15
• Study Completion Date: 2021-05-01

Brief Summary

This randomized intervention is designed to compare the influence of physical activity in natural and urban environments on cognitive and physical health. Half of the participants will participate in a six-week physical activity class based in a natural environment, and half of the participants will participate in a six-week physical activity class based in an indoor environment. The investigators hypothesize the nature-based intervention will produce lower cognitive fatigue (measured using neurophysiological measurements), better cognitive performance (measured using cognitive assessments), and increased physical fitness (measuring using fitness testing).

Detailed Description

Research has yet to determine how regular physical activity in different environments influences physical and cognitive performance. Studies show exposure to natural environments can improve cognitive performance, increase creative thinking, and decrease stress-related responses. According to the theory of attention restoration, exposure to natural environments restores attentional resources because nature contains specific qualities that allow for directed attention to replenish and endorses health-related behaviors such as walking, running, and biking. Nature exposure is hypothesized to decrease activation of neural networks involved in cognitive control, therefore allowing for restoration of resources to occur. Activation of the cognitive control network is reflected through increased power of theta frequency (4-8 Hz) at the midfrontal regions (measured using electroencephalography; EEG), which reflects cognitive fatigue during rest. Previous research shows spending time in nature decreases midfrontal theta power, therefore reducing rumination and cognitive fatigue. Likewise, event-related potentials, such as higher P3 amplitude and shorter P3 latency during tasks, indicate better attentional allocation and processing speed, indicating better cognitive processing. These neurophysiological measurements are indicative of cognitive restoration and can determine changes in cognitive functioning over time.

The investigators propose to collect measurements of electroencephalography (spectral EEG, task-evoked event-related potentials), behavioral cognitive assessments (cognitive control, working memory performance), and health factors (VO2max) using a 2 (nature or urban physical activity intervention) x 2 (baseline and post-intervention sessions) design to determine changes in cognitive functioning across time. As part of an ongoing investigation in the cognitive and physical influence of intervention strategies, physical activity interventions will take place for a 6-week period, and participants will be recruited across three intervals of testing. Trained fitness instructors will lead participants in regularly scheduled 45-minute aerobic-based physical activity sessions three times a week. Each session will involve a combination of walking and running that progressively increases the duration of intensity throughout the 6-week period, starting at 20-minutes of moderate-to-vigorous training during the first week, and increasing duration by 5-minute intervals. Intervention groups will differ based on the location of the intervention. The nature-based intervention sessions will occur outdoors in a local public park in the Boston area. The urban-based intervention sessions will occur indoors in the Center for Cognitive & Brain Health intervention activity rooms.

Conditions

Environmental Exposure; Physical Activity

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: TRIPLE

Study Groups

Nature Exposure

6-week physical activity course in a natural environment

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Physical Activity

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Six weeks of instructor-led physical activity sessions.

Urban Exposure

6-week physical activity course in an urban environment

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Physical Activity

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Six weeks of instructor-led physical activity sessions.

Interventions

Physical Activity

Six weeks of instructor-led physical activity sessions.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• sedentary (1 or less exercise sessions per week)
• physically healthy
• normal or corrected-to-normal vision
• normal or corrected-to-normal hearing

Exclusion Criteria

• currently treated for a neurological disorder
• currently treated for a physical health problem

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 30 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Northeastern University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Charles Hillman

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Northeastern University

Arthur Kramer

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Northeastern University

Related Links

http://web.northeastern.edu/cbhlab/

Center for Cognitive and Brain Health

Other Identifiers

NortheasternU

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id