The Effect of Brain Endurance Training on Motor Skill Learning in Adolescents With Mild Mental Fatigue

August 3, 2026 updated by: Yunliang Zhang
Objective: To investigate the effects of brain endurance training on improving motor skill learning in adolescents with mild mental fatigue. Methods: Fifty-eight adolescents experiencing mild mental fatigue were recruited. A 6-week training program was conducted using a 2 (BET group, control group) × 2 (pre- and post-Stroop task) × 3 (0, 3, 6 weeks) mixed-design experimental design. Assessments included basketball free throws, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS-MF), the 3-minute Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT-B), the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) to assess performance before and after a 30-minute Stroop task.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

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Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

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Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
58

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

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Study Contact

Study Contact

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Participation Criteria

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Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Participants assessed as having mild mental fatigue using the Mental Fatigue VAS scale
  • No prior experience in learning specific motor skills
  • In good physical health, with no history of central nervous system disorders, musculoskeletal injuries, or mental health conditions

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals with moderate to severe mental fatigue or no mental fatigue
  • Individuals with moderate to severe mental fatigue or no mental fatigue
  • Individuals with a history of traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, chronic headaches, ADHD, anxiety, or depression - Individuals who have sustained a musculoskeletal injury within the past month and are unable to complete standardized exercise routines
  • Individuals taking medications that affect central nervous system function on a long-term basis, or who have consumed caffeine, energy drinks, or alcohol within 24 hours prior to the experiment - Individuals with persistent sleep disorders
  • Individuals unable to cooperate in completing cognitive endurance training and motor skill tests.Individuals with a history of traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, chronic headaches, ADHD, anxiety, or depression
  • Individuals who have sustained a musculoskeletal injury within the past month and are unable to complete standardized exercise routines
  • Individuals taking medications that affect central nervous system function on a long-term basis, or who have consumed caffeine, energy drinks, or alcohol within 24 hours prior to the experiment
  • Individuals with persistent sleep disorders - Individuals unable to cooperate in completing cognitive endurance training and motor skill tests.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: BET
During training, the BET group completed a 20-minute 2-back task [28]; after a 5-minute break, they performed free-throw-related physical and technical training. The training content, intensity, and workload were identical for both groups, and the presentation timing and intervals of the 2-back task stimuli were adjusted every two weeks [18]. During testing, both the BET group and the control group completed 20 free-throw attempts and a 1-minute free-throw test [29] before and after the 30-minute Stroop task, and underwent PVT-B, VAS-MF, and RPE assessments.
Behavioral: Motor Skill Learning
During training, the BET group completed a 20-minute 2-back task [28], followed by a 5-minute break, after which they performed free-throw-related physical and technical training. The presentation timing and intervals of the 2-back task stimuli were adjusted every two weeks [18]. During testing, the BET group completed 20 free-throw trials and a 1-minute free-throw test [29] before and after the 30-minute Stroop task, and underwent PVT-B, VAS-MF, and RPE assessments.
Behavioral: Motor Skill Learning
The BET group and the control group underwent physical and technical training related to free throws; the training content, intensity, and workload were identical for both groups. While the BET group performed cognitive tasks, the control group rested in place. During testing, the control group completed a 20-free-throw test and a 1-minute free-throw test [29] before and after the 30-minute Stroop task, and underwent PVT-B, VAS-MF, and RPE assessments.
Experimental: Control
The BET group and the control group underwent the same physical and technical training related to free throws; the training content, intensity, and workload were identical for both groups. While the BET group performed cognitive tasks, the control group rested in place. The presentation timing and intervals of the 2-back task stimuli were adjusted every two weeks [18]. During testing, both the BET group and the control group completed 20 free-throw trials and a 1-minute free-throw test [29] before and after the 30-minute Stroop task, and underwent PVT-B, VAS-MF, and RPE assessments.
Behavioral: Motor Skill Learning
During training, the BET group completed a 20-minute 2-back task [28], followed by a 5-minute break, after which they performed free-throw-related physical and technical training. The presentation timing and intervals of the 2-back task stimuli were adjusted every two weeks [18]. During testing, the BET group completed 20 free-throw trials and a 1-minute free-throw test [29] before and after the 30-minute Stroop task, and underwent PVT-B, VAS-MF, and RPE assessments.
Behavioral: Motor Skill Learning
The BET group and the control group underwent physical and technical training related to free throws; the training content, intensity, and workload were identical for both groups. While the BET group performed cognitive tasks, the control group rested in place. During testing, the control group completed a 20-free-throw test and a 1-minute free-throw test [29] before and after the 30-minute Stroop task, and underwent PVT-B, VAS-MF, and RPE assessments.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Number of Free Throws Made in Basketball
Time Frame: From enrollment through Week 3 and then Week 6
From enrollment through Week 3 and then Week 6
Number of Free Throws in 1 Minute
Time Frame: From enrollment through Week 3 and then Week 6
From enrollment through Week 3 and then Week 6
Free throws made in 1 minute
Time Frame: From enrollment through Week 3 and then Week 6
From enrollment through Week 3 and then Week 6

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
VAS-MF
Time Frame: From enrollment through Week 3 and then Week 6
The 10cm VAS-MF was used to assess the degree of mental fatigue. The scale consists of an unmarked horizontal line, with the left end (0 = not at all fatigued) and the right end (10 = completely fatigued) representing the lowest and highest states of this dimension, respectively. Participants are instructed by the examiner to draw a vertical line on the scale that reflects their immediate feelings. A quantitative score is derived by measuring the physical distance (0-10 cm) from the left end of the scale to the marked point.
From enrollment through Week 3 and then Week 6
RPE
Time Frame: From enrollment through Week 3 and then Week 6
The Borg Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale assesses perceived exertion (0-10); participants indicate their perceived exertion level using their fingers.
From enrollment through Week 3 and then Week 6
At the time of the reaction
Time Frame: From enrollment through Week 3 and then Week 6
All cognitive tasks were conducted using E-Prime 3.0 software. During the 3-minute PVT-B reaction time test, a visual stimulus lasting 1-8 seconds was first presented in the center of the computer screen; participants were instructed to press the "space" key as quickly as possible to respond, after which the screen went blank for 500 ms before proceeding to the next cycle.
From enrollment through Week 3 and then Week 6

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Yunliang Zhang

Publications and helpful links

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Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
August 2, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
September 13, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
September 19, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
July 25, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 3, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 5, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 5, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 3, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • TJUS2025-134

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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