Aerobic ExerciseTEEMYNCT04861818
The Role of the Time of Day in the Effects of Exercise on Memory in Heathy Young Adults
A study testing Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise in people with Aerobic Exercise and Cognitive Change, run by University of North Carolina, Greensboro at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Cumulative evidence indicates that a single bout of exercise has beneficial impacts on memory in young adults. From a physiological perspective, acute exercise leads to changes of heart rate variability (HRV), which is associated with memory retrieval process. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 25 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Aerobic Exercise, Cognitive Change
- What is being tested?
- Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 80 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 21 Jun 2021to 30 Dec 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 18 to 25 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Between the ages of 18-25.
- Currently meeting the American College of Sports Medicine's recommended guidelines of activity (at least 90 min/week of moderate and/or vigorous physical activity).
- Willing to participate for 4 days (2 visits) and refrain from exercise outside of the lab for 4 days (1 day before and the day of two visits).
Who cannot join
- Any known history of cardiac, pulmonary, or metabolic disease (e.g. cardiovascular disease, asthma, diabetes).
- A current musculoskeletal injury, mental illness (e.g., depression, anxiety, or stress disorders), or sleep disorder.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
UNC Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina, 27412
Kyounshin Park, PhD, 336-256-1069, k_park4@uncg.edu
About this study
Cumulative evidence indicates that a single bout of exercise has beneficial impacts on memory in young adults. From a physiological perspective, acute exercise leads to changes of heart rate variability (HRV), which is associated with memory retrieval process. From a psychological perspective, acute exercise increases the arousal level and thus facilitates cognitive processing including memory storage and retrieval. Such HRV- and/or arousal-based effects of exercise on memory could be differed by the time of day in young adults based on their circadian rhythms of HRV. Moreover, young adults prefer afternoon or evening to morning in their circadian rhythms, demonstrating less wakefulness and lower memory performance in the morning relative to afternoon. Based on the potential psychophysiological mechanisms, exercise could impact young adults' memory differently by the time of day. The investigators aim to 1) determine the extent to which the time of day modulates how moderate-intensity cardiovascular exercise impacts verbal-auditory and visuospatial short- and long-term memory in young adults, and 2) consider potential psychological and physiological markers that may mediate exercise's effects on cognitive performance. As cognitive benefits of exercise might differ by the time of day, it is important to investigate such interaction and make the right recommendations of the timing of exercise for young adults in academic settings.
Read the detailed description
Cumulative evidence indicates that a single bout of exercise has beneficial impacts on short- and long-term memory in young adults. From a physiological perspective, acute exercise leads to changes of heart rate variability (HRV), which is associated with memory retrieval process. From a psychological perspective, acute exercise increases the arousal level and thus facilitates cognitive processing including memory storage and retrieval. Such HRV- and/or arousal-based effects of exercise on memory could be differed by the time of day in young adults based on their circadian rhythms of HRV; sleep-wake transition led to rapid changes of HRV. Moreover, young adults prefer afternoon or evening to morning, showing less wakefulness and lower memory performance in the morning relative to afternoon. Based on the potential physiological and/or psychological mechanisms, exercise could impact young adults' memory differently by the time of day. Few studies, however, tested the effects of exercise on memory based on the time of day; rather, a recent study found null effects of exercise-induced arousal on implicit and explicit memory performance in college students in the morning.
The investigators here aim to 1) determine the extent to which the time of day moderates how moderate-intensity cardiovascular exercise impacts verbal-auditory and visuo-spatial short- and long-term memory in young adults, and 2) consider potential physiological and psychological markers that may mediate exercise's effects on cognitive performance. Specifically, the investigators will conduct a mixed-design randomized experiment to compare the effects of a single session of moderate-intensity cardiovascular exercise on cognitive performance at two times of day - in the morning (7 - 9 AM) and late afternoon (3 - 5 PM). Participants in each of two groups (morning versus afternoon) will complete two sessions of cognitive tests - at baseline without exercise and after an exercise intervention, while their emotional states, arousal levels, and heart rate (HR) will be measured at baseline, before, during, and after the exercise and memory sessions. The hypotheses are 1) acute exercise in the morning will be more beneficial for short- and long-term memory than an equal volume of exercise in the afternoon; 2) resting HRV and changes in perceived arousal and emotional states will be associated with memory performance following the exercise intervention. The rationale for the hypotheses is that cognitive benefits of exercise can differ by the preference for the time of day, so it is important to investigate such interactions to inform recommendations of the timing of exercise for young adults in academic settings. Moreover, exploring the role of psychophysiological markers in mediating exercise effects on cognition help to further understanding of the benefits of exercise for brain health.
- Conditions
- Aerobic Exercise, Cognitive Change
- Being tested
- Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise
- Keywords
- Aerobic exercise, Physical activity, Cognition
- Medical subject headings
- Motor Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Moderate-intensity aerobic exerciseBehavioural
Eligible participants will come into the lab on day 1 and 3 at the same time of day (either morning at 7-10am or afternoon at 3-5pm). They will be then randomly assigned for a rest or an exercise session prior to the memory test. For the rest condition, they will be required to sit and relax while watching Planet Earth for 30 minutes on a cycle ergometer. During the exercise session, they will complete a moderate-intensity cardiovascular exercise for 20 minutes following a 5-min warm-up and followed by a 5-min cool-down on a cycle ergometer. They will start the memory test immediately after the rest/exercise session.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Morning group | Experimental | Participant are assigned to the morning group (7-9am) for 30-min exercise/rest interventions. Receives: Behavioral: Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise |
| Afternoon group | Experimental | Participant are assigned to the afternoon group (3-5pm) for 30-min exercise/rest interventions. Receives: Behavioral: Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Verbal episodic memory change
Verbal episodic memory will be assessed immediately and 24 hour after intervention (rest and exercise) using the Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT trial 1 - 8; max/min score: 15/0 for each trial)
Measured: Immediately after the intervention, the first cognitive test
Visual episodic memory change
Verbal episodic memory will be assessed immediately after intervention (rest and exercise) using the NIH Toolbox Picture Sequence Memory Test (max/min score: 30/0).
Measured: Immediately after the intervention, the second cognitive test
Lure discrimination index change
Lure discrimination index will be assessed immediately after intervention (rest and exercise) using the Mnemonic Similarity Task (max/min score: 1/0).
Measured: Immediately after the intervention, the third cognitive test
Working memory change
Verbal episodic memory will be assessed immediately after intervention (rest and exercise) using the Digits Span Forward and Backward Task (max/min score: 14/0).
Measured: Immediately after the intervention, the fourth cognitive test
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted27 Apr 2021
- Study start21 Jun 2021
- Primary completion30 Dec 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Dec 2025 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Aerobic ExerciseStudies 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
- 80 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of North Carolina, Greensboro
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Kyoung Shin Park, PhD, Principal investigator, UNC Greensboro
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04861818
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 20-0141
- Acronym
- TEEMY
- Status last verified
- Dec 2024
- First submitted
- 23 Mar 2020
- Last updated
- 17 Dec 2024
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 17 Dec 2024. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Role of the Time of Day in the Effects of Exercise on Memory in Heathy Young Adults
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04861818
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- TEEMY / 20-0141
- Conditions
- Aerobic Exercise, Cognitive Change
- Keywords
- Aerobic exercise, Physical activity, Cognition
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of North Carolina, GreensboroUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 21 Jun 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Dec 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Dec 2025 (estimated)
- First posted
- 27 Apr 2021 (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.
Cumulative evidence indicates that a single bout of exercise has beneficial impacts on memory in young adults. From a physiological perspective, acute exercise leads to changes of heart rate variability (HRV), which is associated with memory retrieval process. From a psychological perspective, acute exercise increases the arousal level and thus facilitates cognitive processing including memory storage and retrieval. Such HRV- and/or arousal-based effects of exercise on memory could be differed by the time of day in young adults based on their circadian rhythms of HRV. Moreover, young adults prefer afternoon or evening to morning in their circadian rhythms, demonstrating less wakefulness and lower memory performance in the morning relative to afternoon. Based on the potential psychophysiological mechanisms, exercise could impact young adults' memory differently by the time of day. The investigators aim to 1) determine the extent to which the time of day modulates how moderate-intensity cardiovascular exercise impacts verbal-auditory and visuospatial short- and long-term memory in young adults, and 2) consider potential psychological and physiological markers that may mediate exercise's effects on cognitive performance. As cognitive benefits of exercise might differ by the time of day, it is important to investigate such interaction and make the right recommendations of the timing of exercise for young adults in academic settings.
Detailed description
Cumulative evidence indicates that a single bout of exercise has beneficial impacts on short- and long-term memory in young adults. From a physiological perspective, acute exercise leads to changes of heart rate variability (HRV), which is associated with memory retrieval process. From a psychological perspective, acute exercise increases the arousal level and thus facilitates cognitive processing including memory storage and retrieval. Such HRV- and/or arousal-based effects of exercise on memory could be differed by the time of day in young adults based on their circadian rhythms of HRV; sleep-wake transition led to rapid changes of HRV. Moreover, young adults prefer afternoon or evening to morning, showing less wakefulness and lower memory performance in the morning relative to afternoon. Based on the potential physiological and/or psychological mechanisms, exercise could impact young adults' memory differently by the time of day. Few studies, however, tested the effects of exercise on memory based on the time of day; rather, a recent study found null effects of exercise-induced arousal on implicit and explicit memory performance in college students in the morning.
The investigators here aim to 1) determine the extent to which the time of day moderates how moderate-intensity cardiovascular exercise impacts verbal-auditory and visuo-spatial short- and long-term memory in young adults, and 2) consider potential physiological and psychological markers that may mediate exercise's effects on cognitive performance. Specifically, the investigators will conduct a mixed-design randomized experiment to compare the effects of a single session of moderate-intensity cardiovascular exercise on cognitive performance at two times of day - in the morning (7 - 9 AM) and late afternoon (3 - 5 PM). Participants in each of two groups (morning versus afternoon) will complete two sessions of cognitive tests - at baseline without exercise and after an exercise intervention, while their emotional states, arousal levels, and heart rate (HR) will be measured at baseline, before, during, and after the exercise and memory sessions. The hypotheses are 1) acute exercise in the morning will be more beneficial for short- and long-term memory than an equal volume of exercise in the afternoon; 2) resting HRV and changes in perceived arousal and emotional states will be associated with memory performance following the exercise intervention. The rationale for the hypotheses is that cognitive benefits of exercise can differ by the preference for the time of day, so it is important to investigate such interactions to inform recommendations of the timing of exercise for young adults in academic settings. Moreover, exploring the role of psychophysiological markers in mediating exercise effects on cognition help to further understanding of the benefits of exercise for brain health.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Morning group | Experimental | Behavioral: Moderate-intensity aerobic exerciseParticipant are assigned to the morning group (7-9am) for 30-min exercise/rest interventions. |
| Afternoon group | Experimental | Behavioral: Moderate-intensity aerobic exerciseParticipant are assigned to the afternoon group (3-5pm) for 30-min exercise/rest interventions. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 25 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Between the ages of 18-25.
- Currently meeting the American College of Sports Medicine's recommended guidelines of activity (at least 90 min/week of moderate and/or vigorous physical activity).
- Willing to participate for 4 days (2 visits) and refrain from exercise outside of the lab for 4 days (1 day before and the day of two visits).
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Any known history of cardiac, pulmonary, or metabolic disease (e.g. cardiovascular disease, asthma, diabetes).
- A current musculoskeletal injury, mental illness (e.g., depression, anxiety, or stress disorders), or sleep disorder.
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 aerobic exerciseEligible participants will come into the lab on day 1 and 3 at the same time of day (either morning at 7-10am or afternoon at 3-5pm). They will be then randomly assigned for a rest or an exercise session prior to the memory test. For the rest condition, they will be required to sit and relax while watching Planet Earth for 30 minutes on a cycle ergometer. During the exercise session, they will complete a moderate-intensity cardiovascular exercise for 20 minutes following a 5-min warm-up and followed by a 5-min cool-down on a cycle ergometer. They will start the memory test immediately after the rest/exercise session. | Behavioural | Afternoon group, Morning group |
Primary outcome
Verbal episodic memory change
Time frame: Immediately after the intervention, the first cognitive test
Verbal episodic memory will be assessed immediately and 24 hour after intervention (rest and exercise) using the Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT trial 1 - 8; max/min score: 15/0 for each trial)
Visual episodic memory change
Time frame: Immediately after the intervention, the second cognitive test
Verbal episodic memory will be assessed immediately after intervention (rest and exercise) using the NIH Toolbox Picture Sequence Memory Test (max/min score: 30/0).
Lure discrimination index change
Time frame: Immediately after the intervention, the third cognitive test
Lure discrimination index will be assessed immediately after intervention (rest and exercise) using the Mnemonic Similarity Task (max/min score: 1/0).
Working memory change
Time frame: Immediately after the intervention, the fourth cognitive test
Verbal episodic memory will be assessed immediately after intervention (rest and exercise) using the Digits Span Forward and Backward Task (max/min score: 14/0).
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 17 Dec 2024.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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.
Kyoung Shin Park, PhD principal investigator
UNC Greensboro
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 aerobic exercise in people with Aerobic Exercise and Cognitive Change, run by University of North Carolina, Greensboro 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 3 inclusion and 2 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 17 Dec 2024. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Shin Park, PhD (336-256-1069, k_park4@uncg.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Verbal episodic memory change (time frame: Immediately after the intervention, the first cognitive test). The study lists 4 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 17 Dec 2024.