CognitionLion TracksNCT07677345
Lion Tracks EEG Pilot: Understand Cognitive Responses to CrossFit in Mother-Child Dyads
A study testing Family-Based Functional Fitness Exercise and Independent Functional Fitness Exercise in people with Cognition, run by Penn State University.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to examine how participating in exercise together versus separately influences brain function, cognitive performance, mood, and parent-child connection in mother-child dyads. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 3 years and older, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Cognition
- What is being tested?
- Family-Based Functional Fitness Exercise and Independent Functional Fitness Exercise
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 1 Jan 2027to 1 Mar 2028
- 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 3 years and older
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Adult participant is a mother or female primary caregiver aged 18 years or older.
- Child participant is at least 3 years of age.
- Mother and child are willing to participate together as a dyad.
- Mother and child are able to understand and speak English.
- Mother and child are willing to attend two study visits at a participating community fitness facility.
- Mother and child are able to safely participate in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity as determined by health screening procedures.
- Mother is willing to provide informed consent and child is willing to provide assent when appropriate.
Who cannot join
- Pregnancy at the time of participation.
- Any cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory, neurological, musculoskeletal, or other medical condition that would make exercise unsafe.
- Current injury or physical limitation preventing participation in exercise.
- History of seizure disorder or other condition that may interfere with EEG assessment.
- Inability to complete study procedures or wear EEG equipment. *Child*
- Medical condition, injury, or physical limitation that would make participation in exercise unsafe.
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- Neurological condition or developmental disorder that would prevent completion of study procedures, as determined by the parent and study team.
- History of seizure disorder or other condition that may interfere with EEG assessment.
- Inability to tolerate wearing the EEG headset or complete study procedures. *Dyad*
- Either the mother or child is unable or unwilling to complete both study visits.
- Either participant has a contraindication to exercise identified during screening.
- Either participant has a condition that, in the opinion of the investigators, would make participation unsafe or compromise data quality.
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: Lion Tracks EEG Pilot
The purpose of this study is to examine how participating in exercise together versus separately influences brain function, cognitive performance, mood, and parent-child connection in mother-child dyads. Mothers and their children will complete two fitness class visits at a participating community fitness facility/CrossFit affiliate. During one visit, mothers and children will exercise in separate age-appropriate classes, and during the other visit they will exercise together in a shared class. Before and after each exercise session, participants will complete brief assessments of cognition, mood, and brain activity using a portable electroencephalography (EEG) device. Findings from this pilot study will help determine the feasibility of conducting community-based neuroscience research and may inform future family-centered physical activity programs designed to support brain, emotional, and social health.
Read the detailed description
Physical activity is associated with improvements in cognitive function, emotional well-being, and overall health across the lifespan. Emerging evidence suggests that social and relational contexts may influence the benefits derived from physical activity, yet little research has examined how exercising together versus separately affects parent-child dyads. Understanding these effects may inform the development of family-centered physical activity interventions that promote both physical and psychological health.
The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate the feasibility of conducting community-based neurocognitive research within fitness settings and to explore acute changes in cognitive, emotional, and neurophysiological outcomes following exercise. Mother-child dyads will participate in two exercise conditions: a shared exercise session in which mothers and children participate together, and a separate exercise session in which mothers and children participate in age-appropriate classes independently. A within-subjects design will allow each dyad to experience both conditions.
Cognitive performance, mood, and brain activity will be assessed before and after exercise using brief computerized assessments and portable electroencephalography (EEG). Feasibility outcomes will include recruitment, retention, adherence, participant acceptability, and data quality. Exploratory analyses will examine whether exercise context (shared versus separate participation) is associated with differences in cognitive, emotional, and neurophysiological responses.
Findings from this study will provide preliminary data to support future investigations of family-based physical activity interventions and their potential effects on brain health, emotional well-being, and parent-child relationships.
- Conditions
- Cognition
- Being tested
- Family-Based Functional Fitness Exercise, Independent Functional Fitness Exercise
- Keywords
- Mother-Child Dyads, CrossFit, Brain Health, Family-Based Physical Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Family-Based Functional Fitness ExerciseBehavioural
A supervised mother-child functional fitness exercise session conducted in a community fitness setting. Mothers and children participate together in approximately 60 minutes of age-appropriate exercise activities.
Independent Functional Fitness ExerciseBehavioural
Participants will complete an approximately 60-minute functional fitness exercise session in a community fitness setting. Mothers will participate in an instructor-led adult fitness class while children simultaneously participate in an age-appropriate youth fitness class. Sessions may include warm-up activities, movement skill instruction, strength or conditioning exercises, games, and cool-down activities. Mothers and children will exercise separately throughout the session and will not participate in the same class activities. This condition is designed to examine the effects of exercise performed independently compared with exercise performed together as a mother-child dyad.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Shared Exercise Session | Experimental | Participants assigned to this condition will complete a mother-child exercise session together at a participating community fitness facility/CrossFit affiliate. The session will consist of approximately 60 minutes of instructor-led functional fitness activities, including a warm-up, skill or strength-based exercises, conditioning activities, and cool-down. Mothers and children will participate alongside one another throughout the session. Cognitive performance, mood, and brain activity will be assessed immediately before and after the exercise session using brief computerized tasks, questionnaires, and portable electroencephalography (EEG). Participants will complete this condition once during the study. Receives: Behavioral: Family-Based Functional Fitness Exercise |
| Separate Exercise Session | Active comparator | Participants assigned to this condition will complete exercise sessions in separate age-appropriate classes at a participating community fitness facility/CrossFit affiliate. Mothers will participate in an adult functional fitness class, while children will participate in a youth fitness class occurring concurrently. Sessions will last approximately 60 minutes and will include instructor-led warm-up, skill or strength-based exercises, conditioning activities, and cool-down. Mothers and children will exercise independently and will not participate in the same class activities during this condition. Cognitive performance, mood, and brain activity will be assessed immediately before and after the exercise session using brief computerized tasks, questionnaires, and portable electroencephalography (EEG). Participants will complete this condition once during the study. Receives: Behavioral: Independent Functional Fitness Exercise |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Feasibility of Community-Based EEG Assessment
Feasibility will be evaluated through recruitment, retention, session completion, questionnaire completion, cognitive task completion, and acquisition of usable EEG recordings using the EMOTIV EPOC X portable electroencephalography system. Data quality will be assessed by the proportion of participants providing analyzable EEG and cognitive data.
Measured: Throughout study completion (approximately 2 study visits over 1-2 weeks)
Secondary outcomes (5)
Cognitive Performance (Symbol Search Task)
Processing speed and visual attention will be assessed using the M2C2 Symbol Search task. Outcomes include response accuracy and reaction time.
Measured: Pre- and post-exercise during each study visit (approximately 60 minutes)
Positive and Negative Affect
Mood will be assessed using the 10-item International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Short Form (I-PANAS-SF). Scores for positive affect and negative affect will be calculated according to published scoring procedures.
Measured: Immediately before and after each exercise session (approximately 60 minutes)
Parent-Child Connectedness
Parent-child connectedness will be assessed using the Inclusion of Other in the Self (IOS) Scale, a validated single-item pictorial measure of perceived interpersonal closeness. Mothers select one of seven increasingly overlapping pairs of circles representing the relationship between themselves and their child. Scores range from 1 (least connected) to 7 (most connected), with higher scores indicating greater perceived parent-child connectedness.
Measured: Immediately following each exercise condition
Exercise Enjoyment
Enjoyment of the exercise session will be assessed using the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES), a validated measure of enjoyment experienced during physical activity. Scores range from 1 to 5, with the overall score calculated as the mean of all items. Higher scores indicate greater enjoyment of the exercise session.
Measured: Immediately following each exercise condition
Neurophysiological Activity
Brain activity will be assessed using the EMOTIV EPOC X wireless electroencephalography (EEG) system. Outcomes may include resting-state spectral power within delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma frequency bands, as well as frontal alpha asymmetry and other exploratory EEG-derived markers of cognitive engagement and neural activation.
Measured: Immediately before and after each exercise session (approximately 60 minutes)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted30 Jun 2026
- Study start1 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Mar 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for CognitionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Penn State UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- Crossover
- Model description
- Mother-child dyads will complete two exercise conditions in a within-subject crossover design. During one visit, mothers and children will participate in a shared exercise session. During a second visit, mothers and children will participate in separate age-appropriate exercise sessions. The order of conditions will be randomized and counterbalanced across participants. Cognitive, emotional, and neurophysiological outcomes will be assessed before and after each exercise session.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Penn State University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Janette Watkins, Penn State University
- Investigators
- Janette Watkins, PhD, Principal investigator, The Pennsylvania State University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07677345
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STUDY00029189
- Acronym
- Lion Tracks
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 24 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 2 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data will not be made publicly available because the study involves a small sample size and includes potentially identifiable cognitive, physiological, and neurophysiological data from mother-child dyads. Data will be reported in aggregate form to protect participant confidentiality and privacy.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Lion Tracks EEG Pilot
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07677345
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Lion Tracks / STUDY00029189
- Conditions
- Cognition
- Keywords
- Mother-Child Dyads, CrossFit, Brain Health, Family-Based Physical Activity
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Penn State UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Mar 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 30 Jun 2026 (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 purpose of this study is to examine how participating in exercise together versus separately influences brain function, cognitive performance, mood, and parent-child connection in mother-child dyads. Mothers and their children will complete two fitness class visits at a participating community fitness facility/CrossFit affiliate. During one visit, mothers and children will exercise in separate age-appropriate classes, and during the other visit they will exercise together in a shared class. Before and after each exercise session, participants will complete brief assessments of cognition, mood, and brain activity using a portable electroencephalography (EEG) device. Findings from this pilot study will help determine the feasibility of conducting community-based neuroscience research and may inform future family-centered physical activity programs designed to support brain, emotional, and social health.
Detailed description
Physical activity is associated with improvements in cognitive function, emotional well-being, and overall health across the lifespan. Emerging evidence suggests that social and relational contexts may influence the benefits derived from physical activity, yet little research has examined how exercising together versus separately affects parent-child dyads. Understanding these effects may inform the development of family-centered physical activity interventions that promote both physical and psychological health.
The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate the feasibility of conducting community-based neurocognitive research within fitness settings and to explore acute changes in cognitive, emotional, and neurophysiological outcomes following exercise. Mother-child dyads will participate in two exercise conditions: a shared exercise session in which mothers and children participate together, and a separate exercise session in which mothers and children participate in age-appropriate classes independently. A within-subjects design will allow each dyad to experience both conditions.
Cognitive performance, mood, and brain activity will be assessed before and after exercise using brief computerized assessments and portable electroencephalography (EEG). Feasibility outcomes will include recruitment, retention, adherence, participant acceptability, and data quality. Exploratory analyses will examine whether exercise context (shared versus separate participation) is associated with differences in cognitive, emotional, and neurophysiological responses.
Findings from this study will provide preliminary data to support future investigations of family-based physical activity interventions and their potential effects on brain health, emotional well-being, and parent-child relationships.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Mother-child dyads will complete two exercise conditions in a within-subject crossover design. During one visit, mothers and children will participate in a shared exercise session. During a second visit, mothers and children will participate in separate age-appropriate exercise sessions. The order of conditions will be randomized and counterbalanced across participants. Cognitive, emotional, and neurophysiological outcomes will be assessed before and after each exercise session.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Shared Exercise Session | Experimental | Behavioral: Family-Based Functional Fitness ExerciseParticipants assigned to this condition will complete a mother-child exercise session together at a participating community fitness facility/CrossFit affiliate. The session will consist of approximately 60 minutes of instructor-led functional fitness activities, including a warm-up, skill or strength-based exercises, conditioning activities, and cool-down. Mothers and children will participate alongside one another throughout the session. Cognitive performance, mood, and brain activity will be assessed immediately before and after the exercise session using brief computerized tasks, questionnaires, and portable electroencephalography (EEG). Participants will complete this condition once during the study. |
| Separate Exercise Session | Active comparator | Behavioral: Independent Functional Fitness ExerciseParticipants assigned to this condition will complete exercise sessions in separate age-appropriate classes at a participating community fitness facility/CrossFit affiliate. Mothers will participate in an adult functional fitness class, while children will participate in a youth fitness class occurring concurrently. Sessions will last approximately 60 minutes and will include instructor-led warm-up, skill or strength-based exercises, conditioning activities, and cool-down. Mothers and children will exercise independently and will not participate in the same class activities during this condition. Cognitive performance, mood, and brain activity will be assessed immediately before and after the exercise session using brief computerized tasks, questionnaires, and portable electroencephalography (EEG). Participants will complete this condition once during the study. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 3 years and older
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Adult participant is a mother or female primary caregiver aged 18 years or older.
- Child participant is at least 3 years of age.
- Mother and child are willing to participate together as a dyad.
- Mother and child are able to understand and speak English.
- Mother and child are willing to attend two study visits at a participating community fitness facility.
Key exclusion criteria (12 listed)
- Pregnancy at the time of participation.
- Any cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory, neurological, musculoskeletal, or other medical condition that would make exercise unsafe.
- Current injury or physical limitation preventing participation in exercise.
- History of seizure disorder or other condition that may interfere with EEG assessment.
- Inability to complete study procedures or wear EEG equipment. *Child*
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Family-Based Functional Fitness ExerciseA supervised mother-child functional fitness exercise session conducted in a community fitness setting. Mothers and children participate together in approximately 60 minutes of age-appropriate exercise activities. | Behavioural | Shared Exercise Session |
| Independent Functional Fitness ExerciseParticipants will complete an approximately 60-minute functional fitness exercise session in a community fitness setting. Mothers will participate in an instructor-led adult fitness class while children simultaneously participate in an age-appropriate youth fitness class. Sessions may include warm-up activities, movement skill instruction, strength or conditioning exercises, games, and cool-down activities. Mothers and children will exercise separately throughout the session and will not participate in the same class activities. This condition is designed to examine the effects of exercise performed independently compared with exercise performed together as a mother-child dyad. | Behavioural | Separate Exercise Session |
Primary outcome
Feasibility of Community-Based EEG Assessment
Time frame: Throughout study completion (approximately 2 study visits over 1-2 weeks)
Feasibility will be evaluated through recruitment, retention, session completion, questionnaire completion, cognitive task completion, and acquisition of usable EEG recordings using the EMOTIV EPOC X portable electroencephalography system. Data quality will be assessed by the proportion of participants providing analyzable EEG and cognitive data.
5 secondary outcomes
Cognitive Performance (Symbol Search Task)
Time frame: Pre- and post-exercise during each study visit (approximately 60 minutes)
Positive and Negative Affect
Time frame: Immediately before and after each exercise session (approximately 60 minutes)
Parent-Child Connectedness
Time frame: Immediately following each exercise condition
Exercise Enjoyment
Time frame: Immediately following each exercise condition
Neurophysiological Activity
Time frame: Immediately before and after each exercise session (approximately 60 minutes)
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 2 Jul 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data will not be made publicly available because the study involves a small sample size and includes potentially identifiable cognitive, physiological, and neurophysiological data from mother-child dyads. Data will be reported in aggregate form to protect participant confidentiality and privacy.
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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.
Janette Watkins, PhD principal investigator
The Pennsylvania State University
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Family-Based Functional Fitness Exercise and Independent Functional Fitness Exercise in people with Cognition, run by Penn State University.
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 7 inclusion and 12 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
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 Janette Watkins Dr, PhD (502-321-9683, jjw7102@psu.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Feasibility of Community-Based EEG Assessment (time frame: Throughout study completion (approximately 2 study visits over 1-2 weeks)). 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 2 Jul 2026.