The Role of the Time of Day in the Effects of Exercise on Memory in Heathy Young Adults

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Aerobic Exercise, Cognitive Change

In brief

Cumulative evidence indicates that a single bout of exercise has beneficial impacts on memory in young adults. From a physiological perspective, acute exercise leads to changes of heart rate variability (HRV), which is associated with memory retrieval process. From a psychological perspective, acute exercise increases the arousal level and thus facilitates cognitive processing including memory storage and retrieval. Such HRV- and/or arousal-based effects of exercise on memory could be differed by the time of day in young adults based on their circadian rhythms of HRV. Moreover, young adults prefer afternoon or evening to morning in their circadian rhythms, demonstrating less wakefulness and lower memory performance in the morning relative to afternoon. Based on the potential psychophysiological mechanisms, exercise could impact young adults' memory differently by the time of day. The investigators aim to 1) determine the extent to which the time of day modulates how moderate-intensity cardiovascular exercise impacts verbal-auditory and visuospatial short- and long-term memory in young adults, and 2) consider potential psychological and physiological markers that may mediate exercise's effects on cognitive performance. As cognitive benefits of exercise might differ by the time of day, it is important to investigate such interaction and make the right recommendations of the timing of exercise for young adults in academic settings.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT04861818

Run by

University of North Carolina, Greensboro

People needed

80

Starts

2021-06-21

Expected to finish

2025-12-30

Last updated by the study team

2024-12-17

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 25. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Between the ages of 18-25.
• Currently meeting the American College of Sports Medicine's recommended guidelines of activity (at least 90 min/week of moderate and/or vigorous physical activity).
• Willing to participate for 4 days (2 visits) and refrain from exercise outside of the lab for 4 days (1 day before and the day of two visits).

You may not qualify if…

• Any known history of cardiac, pulmonary, or metabolic disease (e.g. cardiovascular disease, asthma, diabetes).
• A current musculoskeletal injury, mental illness (e.g., depression, anxiety, or stress disorders), or sleep disorder.

Where it is running

• UNC Greensboro — Greensboro, North Carolina, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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