Cognitive Performance in Healthy Adults
Conditions
Keywords
Massage, Cognitive Workload, TLoadDback
Brief summary
This study will compare a 15-minute back massage, 15 minutes of quiet rest, and no additional break before a mental task in healthy adults aged 18 to 27 years. Each participant will complete all three conditions in a random order at separate visits. The study will measure task accuracy, heart rate, skin conductance, and perceived workload to assess whether massage offers a benefit beyond rest.
Detailed description
This randomized crossover study includes three visits approximately two weeks apart. Task practice and individual calibration take place before a seated resting measurement. Participants then receive massage, rest lying face down, or proceed directly to the task. The TLoadDback task lasts 16 minutes at a fixed, individually calibrated pace. Physiological signals are recorded during rest and task performance. Participants complete the NASA-TLX questionnaire after the task.
Interventions
OTHERClassical Back Massage
A 15-minute classical back massage while lying face down, delivered by trained personnel before TLoadDback.
BEHAVIORALPassive Rest
A 15-minute quiet rest lying face down on the massage table without massage before TLoadDback.
OTHERNo Additional Break
TLoadDback begins immediately after the seated resting baseline, without an additional 15-minute preparation period.
Sponsors
DSW Ideis University
Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Each participant completes three conditions in one of six randomized sequences: ABC, ACB, BAC, BCA, CAB, or CBA. A: back massage; B: passive rest; C: no additional break. Visits are approximately two weeks apart.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 27 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Age 18 to 27 years and good general health. * Informed consent and ability to attend three visits. * Normal or corrected vision, understanding of Polish instructions, and ability to perform the computer task with the dominant hand.
Exclusion criteria
* Neurological, psychiatric, or other conditions that may affect study participation or task performance. * Medications or substances affecting autonomic function. * Contraindications to massage, including relevant skin lesions or inflammation. * Failure to understand the task after repeated instruction or to complete calibration. * Cognitive or relaxation-focused nonpharmacological interventions within the previous three months, excluding recreational physical activity. * Caffeine or nicotine within four hours, or strenuous exercise within 12 hours before a visit; the visit may be rescheduled.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Weighted Accuracy on TLoadDback (WAcc) | During the 16-minute task at each of three visits approximately two weeks apart (about four weeks in total). | Weighted accuracy across the full task: 0.65 x letter accuracy + 0.35 x digit accuracy. Letter accuracy includes correct detections and correct withholding of responses; digit accuracy is correct parity classification. Scores range from 0 to 100%, with higher scores indicating better performance. |
| Mean Heart Rate During TLoadDback | During the 16-minute task at each of three visits approximately two weeks apart (about four weeks in total). | Mean heart rate in beats per minute during the task, derived from photoplethysmography. Analyses will account for the precondition resting baseline from the same visit. |
| Mean Skin Conductance During TLoadDback | During the 16-minute task at each of three visits approximately two weeks apart (about four weeks in total). | Mean skin conductance in microsiemens during the task. Analyses will account for the precondition resting baseline from the same visit. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Perceived Workload (NASA-TLX) | Immediately after the task at each of three visits approximately two weeks apart (about four weeks in total). | Unweighted mean of six NASA-TLX ratings, each scored from 0 to 100 and oriented so that higher values indicate greater workload or poorer perceived performance. |
| Median Response Time on TLoadDback | During the 16-minute task at each of three visits approximately two weeks apart (about four weeks in total). | Median response time, in milliseconds, for correct responses that require a key press during the task. |
Countries
Poland
Contacts
CONTACTMaciej Lachowicz, PhD
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORMaciej Lachowicz, PhD
Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego im. Polskich Olimpijczyków we Wrocławiu
Outcome results
None listed