Executive Functions (EF)NCT07231536
Boosting Executive Function With Real-class Exercise
A study testing Mentally active sitting, 5-minute physical exercise and 10-minute physical exercise in people with Executive Functions (EF), run by Shenzhen University at 1 site in China.
Trial 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… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 9 to 13 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Executive Functions (EF)
- What is being tested?
- Mentally active sitting, 5-minute physical exercise and 10-minute physical exercise
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 367 participants
- Where
- 1 siteChina
- Study dates
- 24 Nov 2025to 26 Dec 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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 9 to 13 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- right-handed, had normal or corrected-to-normal visual acuity, and normal color vision
Who cannot join
- reported a history of cardiovascular, metabolic, gastrointestinal, neurological, or psychiatric disorders or conditions requiring medical attention.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Investigating Dual-Model Effects of Acute Pre-Class Physical Exercise on Inhibitory Control: A Cluster-Randomized Classroom Trial
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)
- Being tested
- Mentally active sitting, 5-minute physical exercise, 10-minute physical exercise
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Mentally active sittingBehavioural
Participants remain seated for approximately 10 minutes before class while engaging in a cognitively stimulating activity designed to elicit mental effort without physical exertion.
5-minute physical exerciseBehavioural
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.
10-minute physical exerciseBehavioural
Participants do 10-minute physical exercise before class.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| mentally passive sedentary behavior | No intervention | Not described |
| mentally active sedentary behavior | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Behavioral: Mentally active sitting |
| 5-minute physical exercise | Experimental | Not described Receives: Behavioral: 5-minute physical exercise |
| 10-minute physical exercise | Experimental | Not described Receives: Behavioral: 10-minute physical exercise |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Domain- specific Cognition
This indicator is measured using the computerized Children's Version of the math-related Negative Priming task. The underlying measures employed are task accuracy and reaction time, without involving any physiological measurements.
Measured: Measurements were taken at three time points: baseline (0:00), after the 10-minute intervention (0:15), and following the 40-minute class (0:60).
Domain-general Cognition
This indicator is measured using the computerized Children's Version of the Erikson Flanker task. The underlying measures employed are task accuracy and reaction time, without involving any physiological measurements.
Measured: Measurements were taken at three time points: baseline (0:00), after the 10-minute intervention (0:15), and following the 40-minute class (0:60).
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted17 Nov 2025
- Study start24 Nov 2025
- Primary completion26 Dec 2025
- Study completion26 Dec 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Executive Functions (EF)Studies 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
- 367 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Shenzhen University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Liye Zou, Shenzhen University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07231536
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- ShenzhenURealClassExercise
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 13 Nov 2025
- Last updated
- 11 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 11 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Investigating Dual-Model Effects of Acute Pre-Class Physical Exercise on Inhibitory Control: A Cluster-Randomized Classroom Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07231536
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ShenzhenURealClassExercise
- Conditions
- Executive Functions (EF)
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 367 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Shenzhen UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 24 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 26 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 26 Dec 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 17 Nov 2025 (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.
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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 4
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| mentally passive sedentary behavior | No intervention | – |
| mentally active sedentary behavior | Active comparator | Behavioral: Mentally active sitting |
| 5-minute physical exercise | Experimental | Behavioral: 5-minute physical exercise |
| 10-minute physical exercise | Experimental | Behavioral: 10-minute physical exercise |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 9 to 13 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- right-handed, had normal or corrected-to-normal visual acuity, and normal color vision
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- reported a history of cardiovascular, metabolic, gastrointestinal, neurological, or psychiatric disorders or conditions requiring medical attention.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mentally active sittingParticipants remain seated for approximately 10 minutes before class while engaging in a cognitively stimulating activity designed to elicit mental effort without physical exertion. | Behavioural | mentally active sedentary behavior |
| 5-minute physical exerciseParticipants 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. | Behavioural | 5-minute physical exercise |
| 10-minute physical exerciseParticipants do 10-minute physical exercise before class. | Behavioural | 10-minute physical exercise |
Primary outcome
Domain- specific Cognition
Time frame: Measurements were taken at three time points: baseline (0:00), after the 10-minute intervention (0:15), and following the 40-minute class (0:60).
This indicator is measured using the computerized Children's Version of the math-related Negative Priming task. The underlying measures employed are task accuracy and reaction time, without involving any physiological measurements.
Domain-general Cognition
Time frame: Measurements were taken at three time points: baseline (0:00), after the 10-minute intervention (0:15), and following the 40-minute class (0:60).
This indicator is measured using the computerized Children's Version of the Erikson Flanker task. The underlying measures employed are task accuracy and reaction time, without involving any physiological measurements.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 11 Aug 2026.
Related trials for Executive Functions (EF)
Not yet recruiting
Cognitive Intervention for Children and Adolescents With NF1
Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1), Executive Function (Cognition)
Active, not recruiting
Learning by Heart: The Effectiveness of an EF Training Program for Pre-schoolers With Critical CHD
Congenital Heart Disease, Executive Dysfunction
Not yet recruiting
Sharing Tales That Teach: Shared Picturebook Reading for Early Childhood Emotional and Cognitive Development
Child Development, Executive Functions (EF)
Not yet recruiting
Smoothie Program for Achieving and Resilient Kids
Executive Functions (EF), Microbiome
Active, not recruiting
Hybrid Computerized EF Training Using Virtual Human Stimuli for Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorder
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. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Mentally active sitting, 5-minute physical exercise and 10-minute physical exercise in people with Executive Functions (EF), run by Shenzhen University at 1 site in China.
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 1 inclusion and 1 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 Aug 2026. 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 China. 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?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Domain- specific Cognition (time frame: Measurements were taken at three time points: baseline (0:00), after the 10-minute intervention (0:15), and following the 40-minute class (0:60).). The study lists 2 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 11 Aug 2026.