The goal of this randomized cross-over trial is to learn about the effect of a single bout of 20-min mindfulness-based high-intensity interval training (MF-HIIT), MF-only, and HIIT-only in relative to sitting rest on executive function (EF) in 10-12 years old children. The main question it aims to answer are:
Question 1: Whether a single bout of 20-min MF-HIIT has larger beneficial effect on EF performance than that following a 20-min session of MF-only and HIIT-only in relative to the sitting rest
Question 2: Whether a single bout of 20-min MF-HIIT has a larger beneficial effect on brain functioning, as measured by the N2 and P3 components of event-related potential (ER) during EF performance than that following a 20-min session of MF-only and HIIT-only in relative to the sitting rest
Participants will visit the laboratory on 5 separate days (\> 2-day washout between days) in which they have not previously participated in structured physical activities.
Participants will complete the testing and/or receive treatments below:
Day 1:
* Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (KBIT) to assess intelligence quotient * Treadmill-based exercise test to measure cardiorespiratory fitness (maximum oxygen consumption)
Days 2-5
* Each day, participants will complete each of the four intervention conditions (MF-HIIT, MF-only, HIIT-only, sitting) * Participants' heart rate and self-reported affect and rating of physical exertion will be measured * Participants will complete a modified flanker task and a task-switching task to assess inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility * Participants will wear an EEG cap to measure the N2 and P3 components of the event-related potential during the inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility performance
Researcher will compare the cognitive outcome measures following the MF-HIIT, MF-only, and HIIT-only conditions with the sitting condition to see if MF and HIIT has beneficial effects on children's EF.
Further, researcher will compare the cognitive outcome measures following the MF-HIIT compared with MF-only and HIIT-only conditions to see if combining MF with HIIT has greater beneficial effects on children's EF than MF and HIIT alone.
Age between 10-12 years old
Intelligence Quotient ≥ 85
Capable of performing exercise based on pre-participation health screening
No formal diagnosis of cognitive disorders (e.g., attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and neurological diseases (e.g., epilepsy)
Age outside of the range of 10-12 years old
Intelligence Quotient < 85
No capable of performing exercise based on pre-participation health screening
Has formal diagnosis of cognitive disorders (e.g., attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and neurological diseases (e.g., epilepsy)
Crossover
MF-HIIT
BehavioralA single bout of 20-min MF-HIIT protocol delivered through a motor-driven treadmill. The protocol will start with a 1.5-min warm-up, then a 16.5-min main exercise (6 x 90s exercise intervals separated by 5 x 90s mindful intervals), and finally a 2-min cool-down.
MF-only
BehavioralA single bout of 20-min intervention mindfulness intervention that includes 5 x 90s mindful intervals separated by sitting rest
HIIT-only
BehavioralA single bout of 20-min HIIT protocol delivered through a motor-driven treadmill. The protocol will start with a 1.5-min warm-up, then a 16.5-min main exercise (6 x 90s exercise intervals separated by 5 x 90s rest intervals), and finally a 2-min cool-down.
Sitting rest
BehavioralParticipants will sit in a comfortable chair, placed on the treadmill, while watching a HIIT video without mindfulness instructions for 20 minutes.
Inhibition speed
Inhibition speed will be assessed by the response time (ms) during a child-friendly flanker task.
Inhibition accuracy
Inhibition accuracy will be assessed by the response accuracy (%) during a child-friendly flanker task.
Shifting speed
The shifting speed will be assessed by the response time (ms) during a child-friendly switching task.
Shifting accuracy
The shifting accuracy will be assessed by the response accuracy (%) during a child-friendly switching task.
State Mindfulness Scale for Physical Activity (SMSPA)
A developmentally-appropriate and validated 12-item, 5-point Likert scaled (0-4), instrument to measure self-reported mindfulness state in children aged above 10 years old. This measure will serve as a manipulation check on mindfulness induction during each of the 4 intervention conditions.
Rating of perceived exertion
The 10-point Children's OMNI rating of perceived exertion will be used as a manipulation check on the intensity of prescribed exercise for the school-based programs as well as the laboratory-based acute interventions.
Heart Rate
Heart rate will serve as a manipulation check on the intensity of prescribed exercise.
Dispositional mindfulness
Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM) provides a validated and reliable measure of dispositional mindfulness in children using 10 items and 5-point Likert scale (0-4), with a higher total score indicating the participant is more mindful. This measure will be used as the secondary outcome measure to to check the intervention manipulation.
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Purdue University
Lead sponsor
University of Oregon
Collaborator
