Placebo Effect on Cycling Performance: Laboratory Crossover Study
Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age20-30
SponsorPoznan University of Physical Education
About this trial
This study aims to determine the impact of the placebo (PLA) effect on physical and cognitive performance in a controlled laboratory setting. The study investigates how expectations and beliefs about substance intake (caffeine vs. placebo) interact with actual consumption to influence performance and physiological stress markers. Healthy adults (n = 80) will participate in four testing sessions using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design. Physiological stress markers (cortisol and alpha-amylase), heart rate, and performance metrics will be monitored during a standardized cycling exercise protocol. This phase provides the dense mechanistic data required to refine a mathematical model of the placebo effect, offering insights into how individual personality traits and cognitive anchoring influence psychophysiological potential.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Age between 20 and 30 years,
Healthy adults,
Regular physical activity, but not professional athletes,
Normal or corrected-to-normal vision,
Disqualifiers
History of neurological, psychiatric, cardiovascular, or metabolic disorders,
Current use of medication or supplements affecting the central nervous system,
Musculoskeletal injuries that would impair physical performance,
No habitual caffeine consumption or severe negative side effects of caffeine,
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Caffeine (6mg/kg)
- Placebo (Starch capsule)
Treatment groups
80 Participants
are divided into 4 treatment groupsSponsors and collaborators
Source ClinicalTrials.gov