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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07650890

Neurocognitive Performance in Public Officials

Public employees are exposed to varying levels of cognitive, physical, and psychosocial demands depending on the nature of their duties. In particular, armed public employees work under conditions that require rapid responses to environmental stimuli, effective use of attentional processes, and accurate decision-making within a limited time. These occupational demands may influence reaction time, neurocognitive performance, quality of life, and activity-role balance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the neurocognitive performance of armed and unarmed public employees.

A total of 82 public employees, including 41 armed and 41 unarmed participants, were included in the study. Reaction time performance was assessed using the Light Trainer system. Neurocognitive performance was evaluated using the Stroop Test and the Digit Span Test. Quality of life was assessed using the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), and activity-role balance was evaluated using the Activity Role Balance Questionnaire.

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Key information

Conditions

Performance Reaction Time

Age range

25 year–35 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

AtLAs Universty

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Aged between 25 and 35 years.
  • Actively employed as a public official for at least 3 years.
  • A score of 26 or higher on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).
  • Currently employed full-time.
  • Able to understand and speak Turkish.
  • Willing to participate in the study and provide informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

  • Presence of a diagnosed neurological or psychiatric disorder.
  • History of traumatic brain injury or severe head trauma within the past 6 months.
  • Presence of an orthopedic condition or injury that may affect upper or lower extremity function.
  • Presence of visual, auditory, or other sensory impairments that may interfere with test performance.
  • Current use of medications or history of substance use that may affect cognitive performance.
  • Previous exposure to or administration of the neurocognitive tests used in this study.

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. Muscle Reaction Time

    Time frame: Baseline (single assessment)

    Light Trainer® system, which consists of a wireless lighting system with LED pods and a central controller. The participants were seated with their hands on the table, 40 cm apart, palms down, and elbows at 90°. The Light Trainer was positioned centrally 20 cm away from each hand. When the pod was illuminated, the participants were instructed to turn off the light as quickly as possible by touching it. Light activation was randomized to avoid predictability, requiring participants to respond based on light cues each time. In the first task, the participants used their dominant hand to turn off the light as quickly as possible. In the second task, they responded to a light signal by deactivating a predetermined light from two different colors using their dominant hand. Scale Range: No minimum or maximum value in milliseconds (lower time is better). Interpretation: Lower reaction times signify better outcomes, as they reflect faster muscle response to visual stimuli.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Digit Span Test Performance

    Time frame: Baseline (single assessment)

    Assesses attention and working memory using the Digit Span Test. Performance is determined by the maximum number of digits correctly recalled in forward and backward sequences, with higher scores indicating better cognitive performance.

  2. Stroop Test Performance

    Time frame: Baseline (single assessment)

    Assesses selective attention, cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control, and processing speed using the Stroop Test. Performance is determined by the time required to complete the task and the number of errors made during the assessment.

  3. Quality of Life (SF-36)

    Time frame: Baseline (single assessment)

    Assesses health-related quality of life using the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36). The SF-36 consists of 36 items and generates scores ranging from 0 to 100 for each domain, with higher scores indicating better health-related quality of life and better perceived health status across physical and mental health domains.

  4. Activity-Role Balance Questionnaire

    Time frame: Baseline (single assessment)

    Assesses the perceived balance between daily activities and life roles using the Activity-Role Balance Questionnaire (ARBQ). Scores range from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating a more satisfactory balance between occupational roles and daily activities.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Atlas University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

A Comparison of Neurocognitive Performance in Armed and Unarmed Public Officials

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jun 16, 2026
Registry last updated
Jun 16, 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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