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NCT Number: NCT07809750

Acute Effects of Active Breaks and Physically Active Learning in University Students

This multicenter randomized crossover study will examine the acute effects of four classroom break conditions on executive functions, immediate academic performance, perceived exertion, and interest-enjoyment in university students. Each participant will complete four experimental sessions in which a different 15-minute condition will be implemented: a sedentary free break, a sedentary academic review break, an active break without academic content, and physically active learning combining movement with academic review. Cognitive performance will be assessed before and after each session using Stroop and N-Back tasks. Academic performance, perceived exertion, and interest-enjoyment will be assessed after each experimental session.

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Key information

Conditions

Cognitive Performance Academic Performance Behavior Motor Activity Sedentary Behavior

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Universidad Pública de Navarra

Pamplona, Navarre, Spain

Location contact

Óscar Martínez de Quel Pérez, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+34948169479

About this study

This is a multicenter, randomized, counterbalanced crossover study conducted in university students from eight Spanish universities.

Participants will first complete a familiarization session in which study procedures, cognitive assessments, and the participant identification system will be explained and practiced.

Each participant will subsequently complete four experimental sessions, separated by at least one week whenever feasible. Each experimental session will include:

  • A 10-minute PRE assessment including Stroop and N-Back tests.
  • Approximately 45 minutes of regular academic instruction.
  • A 15-minute experimental classroom break.
  • Up to 10 additional minutes of regular instruction.
  • An immediate POST assessment including Stroop, N-Back, a 10-item academic performance test, perceived exertion, and interest-enjoyment.

The four experimental conditions will be:

A. Sedentary free break without academic content. B. Sedentary academic review using true/false questions. C. Active break without academic content. D. Physically active learning combining the same physical activities used in Condition C with academic true/false questions.

The order of the four conditions will be randomized and counterbalanced across participating groups. Participants will therefore act as their own controls.

A subsample of participants may wear accelerometers to objectively characterize physical activity and sedentary behavior during the experimental sessions.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

University students aged 18 years or older. Currently enrolled in one of the participating university courses/classes. Provision of informed consent. Ability to participate safely in light-to-moderate classroom physical activity. Ability to complete computerized cognitive assessments.

Exclusion criteria

Injury, illness, or medical condition contraindicating participation in physical activity.

Acute illness or other condition on the day of testing likely to substantially affect attention or cognitive performance.

Inability to complete the required computerized cognitive assessments.

Treatment and study plan

Sedentary Academic Review

Behavioral

A 15-minute sedentary academic review activity using 10 true/false questions based on academic content presented during the first 45 minutes of the session.

Active Break

Behavioral

A standardized 15-minute classroom physical activity break without academic content.

Physically active learning

Behavioral

A standardized 15-minute intervention combining physical activity with academic true/false questions. Participants respond to academic questions through predefined physical movements.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Inhibitory Control Assessed by the Stroop Test

    Time frame: Immediately before and approximately 10 minutes after the 15-minute experimental condition, during each of the four experimental sessions.

    Inhibitory control will be assessed using the Stroop task. Outcomes will include response accuracy and reaction time. Acute change will be calculated by comparing PRE and POST performance within each experimental session.

  2. Change in Working Memory Assessed by the N-Back Test

    Time frame: Immediately before and approximately 10 minutes after the experimental condition, during each of the four experimental sessions.

    Working memory will be assessed using the N-Back task. Outcomes will include accuracy, omissions/errors, and reaction time. Acute change will be calculated from PRE to POST within each experimental session.

  3. Immediate Academic Performance

    Time frame: Approximately 10 minutes after the experimental condition, during each of the four experimental sessions.

    Academic performance will be assessed using a 10-item multiple-choice test developed specifically for the academic content taught during each experimental session. Each question will have three response options and one correct answer. The outcome will be the number of correct responses, ranging from 0 to 10.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Interest-Enjoyment

    Time frame: Approximately 10 minutes after the experimental condition, during each of the four experimental sessions.

    Interest and enjoyment will be assessed using three items from the Interest/Enjoyment subscale of the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory.

  2. Rating of Perceived Exertion

    Time frame: Approximately 10 minutes after the experimental condition, during each of the four experimental sessions.

    Perceived exertion during the 15-minute experimental condition will be assessed using a 0-10 Rating of Perceived Exertion scale, where higher scores indicate greater perceived exertion.

Other outcomes

  1. Physical Activity During Experimental Sessions

    Time frame: Throughout each experimental classroom session, approximately 2 hours.

    In a subsample of participants, triaxial accelerometers will objectively assess sedentary time, light physical activity, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and mean activity intensity during the experimental sessions.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Carlos Martín-Martínez, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+34914884880

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Other

Collaborators

  • Universidad Politecnica de Madrid
  • Universidad Pública de Navarra
  • Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
  • Universitat de les Illes Balears
  • University of Alcala
  • University of Castilla-La Mancha
  • University of Huelva

Registry information

Official study title

Acute Effects of Active Breaks and Physically Active Learning on Executive Functions, Interest-Enjoyment, and Academic Performance in University Students

Acronym: PAL UNI

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Sep 9, 2026
Registry last updated
Sep 9, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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