Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Enrolling by Invitation

NCT Number: NCT07087236

Sedentary Activities and Passive-to-Intense Effects on Neuro-Cognitive States

Prolonged sedentary behavior is linked to poorer metabolic health, yet its effect on cognitive load and brain function remains unclear. Evidence indicates that "mentally active" sedentary tasks (e.g., reading) may support cognition, whereas "mentally passive" tasks (e.g., scrolling social media) may impair it. The cognitive demands associated with these behaviors across the general population are still poorly defined. This project will compare the acute neurophysiological and perceptual responses elicited by mentally active versus passive sedentary tasks across various age groups and in individuals with specific health conditions (i.e., obesity), clarifying how these behaviors differ in the cognitive load they impose. Neuro-cognitive, physiological, and perceptual responses will be assessed with a multimodal battery that includes portable electroencephalography combined with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (EEG + fNIRS; MUSE), eye-tracking (Pupil Core), alertness and visual fatigue via critical flicker fusion testing (CFFT; Lafayette Instrument), autonomic balance through heart-rate variability (HRV) recorded with a Polar H10 monitor, and the self-reported cognitive load assessed using the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). We hypothesise that mentally passive sedentary activities will elicit a lower cognitive load than mentally active tasks. By comparing different age groups and health conditions within a single protocol, the study will generate an initial set of group-specific data; subsequent independent studies can build on these findings to explore moderation effects in greater depth. Collectively, the results will provide both the theoretical rationale and the empirical evidence needed to sustain the "mentally active" versus "mentally passive" terminology in sedentary-behaviour research, with the ultimate aim of improving mental and cognitive health.

Enrolling by Invitation

Interested in participating?

Request Info

Key information

Conditions

Cognition Behavior Sedentary Behavior Sedentary Behaviors

Age range

5 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso

Viña del Mar, Chile

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Children aged 5 to 17 years, attending school.
  • Adults aged 18 and above, without an upper age limit.
  • Participants with and without specific health conditions, such as obesity.
  • Ability to perform sedentary activities and comprehend instructions.

Exclusion criteria

  • Severe visual impairments affecting reading or text visualization.
  • Use of conventional glasses and history of migraine or epilepsy (due to preventive request for the flicker fusion test)
  • Current use of medications that significantly influence cognitive function (unless the health condition being evaluated requires it).
  • Other conditions interfering with cognitive or neurophysiological assessments.

Treatment and study plan

Maximum Cognitive Load

Behavioral

Participants will perform a working memory task (through N-back 1-to-3) to evaluate the upper limit of cognitive demand.

Mental active/pasive activities

Behavioral

Participants will engage in 7 activities, presented in a randomly assigned order across two separate days, to assess their impact on cognitive load:

  • playing a videogame (Tetris ®)
  • listening a podcast (including a final question)
  • watching a documentary (including a final question)
  • reading a document extract (including a final question)
  • watch a reality show extract (including a final question)
  • listening music, they like it
  • scrolling their Tik-Tok/Instagram

Baseline Cognitive Load

Behavioral

Participants will sit quietly for 5 minutes to establish baseline spontaneous neurophysiological parameters.

Primary outcomes

  1. Electroencephalography-derived cortical activity (EEG)

    Time frame: Day 1 and 2

    This outcome will be evaluated using a portable EEG system (MUSE Athena), which will evaluate four types of brain waves-alpha (8-12 Hz), gamma (31-90 Hz), theta (4-7 Hz), and beta (13-30 Hz)-along with two wave ratios: theta/alpha and beta/alpha.

  2. Hemodynamic Response (fNIRS)

    Time frame: Day 1 and 2

    This outcome will be evaluated using a portable functional near-infrared spectroscopy system (fNIRS) in the MUSE headband, assessing changes in oxyhemoglobin (HbO) and deoxyhemoglobin (HbR) concentrations in the prefrontal cortex.

  3. Eye-Tracking Metrics

    Time frame: Day 1 and 2

    This outcome will be evaluated using a validated portable eye tracker (Pupil Core) to assess eye metrics.

  4. Heart Rate Variability (HRV)

    Time frame: Day 1 and 2

    This outcome will be evaluated using a chest strap device connected wirelessly to a tablet (Polar H10). Changes in HRV and heart rate are analyzed as a physiological marker (autonomic balance).

  5. Critical Flicker Fusion Threshold (Flicker Fusion)

    Time frame: Day 1 and 2

    This outcome will be evaluated using the Flicker Fusion System (Lafayette Instrument Company) with the "coincident" stimulus to determine the critical flicker fusion threshold (Hz).

  6. Self-Reported Cognitive Load (NASA-TLX)

    Time frame: day 2

    The Self-Reported Cognitive Load is measured using the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater cognitive load. Capturing subjective workload across six dimensions: mental demand, physical demand, temporal demand, effort, performance, and frustration.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso

Other

Registry information

Acronym: SAPIENS

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Jul 25, 2025
Registry last updated
Jul 28, 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.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.