Cognition, Sedentary Behaviors
Conditions
Brief summary
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.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALMaximum Cognitive Load
Participants will perform a working memory task (through N-back 1-to-3) to evaluate the upper limit of cognitive demand.
BEHAVIORALMental active/pasive activities
Participants will engage in 7 activities, presented in a randomly assigned order across two separate days, to assess their impact on cognitive load: 1. playing a videogame (Tetris ®) 2. listening a podcast (including a final question) 3. watching a documentary (including a final question) 4. reading a document extract (including a final question) 5. watch a reality show extract (including a final question) 6. listening music, they like it 7. scrolling their Tik-Tok/Instagram
BEHAVIORALBaseline Cognitive Load
Participants will sit quietly for 5 minutes to establish baseline spontaneous neurophysiological parameters.
Sponsors
Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)
Masking description
Doble-blind. Both participants and the statistician were blinded to the intervention condition; however, the assessors administering the activities were not blinded.
Intervention model description
This intra-individual study will be conducted in three separate days. The first day will be performed the "familiarization day" for those being evaluated, assessing basal (through spontaneous sitting activity) and maximal (through N-back test) cognitive load and additionally, the evaluators will conducted physical measures (e.g., body composition through DEXA, fitness by the 3-minute step and strength using dynamometer (Jamar Plus + Digital Hand Dynamometer, Sammons Preston, USA), and sociodemographic questionnaire. The second day, the evaluators will conduct four randomized activities. Finally, the third day, the evaluators will conduct the final 3 activities, which also will be randomized between mentally passive and active activities.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
5 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
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.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Electroencephalography-derived cortical activity (EEG) | 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. |
| Hemodynamic Response (fNIRS) | 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. |
| Eye-Tracking Metrics | Day 1 and 2 | This outcome will be evaluated using a validated portable eye tracker (Pupil Core) to assess eye metrics. |
| Heart Rate Variability (HRV) | 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). |
| Critical Flicker Fusion Threshold (Flicker Fusion) | 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). |
| Self-Reported Cognitive Load (NASA-TLX) | 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. |
Countries
Chile
Outcome results
None listed