Effects of Short Physical Activity Breaks on Thinking Skills After University Lectures in Undergraduate Students

The goal of this randomized crossover study is to evaluate whether brief Physical Activity Breaks (PABs), implemented immediately after lecture-based academic activity, can improve attentional processing and executive functioning in undergraduate university students. The main questions it aims to answer are: Do OPAB or PABEx improve attentional and executive performance compared to a no-break control condition (NPAB)? Does PABEx provide superior cognitive benefits compared to OPAB? Researchers will compare: OPAB (a standardized 10-minute outdoor walking protocol) PABEx (a 10-minute exergame-based break using Fruit Ninja Kinect) to see if these interventions improve cognitive performance compared to NPAB (supervised passive seated rest), and whether significant differences in cognitive outcomes emerge between OPAB and PABEx. Participants will: Complete cognitive assessments (Trail Making Test A-B and Stroop Color-Word Test) immediately after each condition. Be randomly assigned, in counterbalanced order, to all three conditions across three consecutive weeks separated by a 7-day washout interval. Engage in a 10-minute structured break (OPAB or PABEx) or passive rest (NPAB) following two consecutive hours of seated university lectures, including: Warm-up (2 minutes): low-intensity dynamic movements. Main session (6 minutes): light-to-moderate outdoor walking (OPAB) or Fruit Ninja Kinect exergaming (PABEx). Cool-down (2 minutes): relaxation and gentle stretching exercises. This study will provide insights into the efficacy of brief active breaks as a pragmatic strategy to enhance cognitive efficiency in university students during academically demanding periods.

NCT Number	NCT07624084
Lead Sponsor	University of Bari Aldo Moro
Conditions	Cognitive Fatigue
Enrollment	42 participants
Start Date	2025-03-10
Primary Completion	2025-04-22 (estimated)
Study Completion	2025-04-30 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-06-05