Acute Effects of Active Breaks and Physically Active Learning in University Students (PAL UNI)

September 8, 2026 updated by: Carlos Martín Martínez, Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Acute Effects of Active Breaks and Physically Active Learning on Executive Functions, Interest-Enjoyment, and Academic Performance in University Students

This multicenter randomized crossover study will examine the acute effects of four classroom break conditions on executive functions, immediate academic performance, perceived exertion, and interest-enjoyment in university students. Each participant will complete four experimental sessions in which a different 15-minute condition will be implemented: a sedentary free break, a sedentary academic review break, an active break without academic content, and physically active learning combining movement with academic review. Cognitive performance will be assessed before and after each session using Stroop and N-Back tasks. Academic performance, perceived exertion, and interest-enjoyment will be assessed after each experimental session.

Study Overview

Status

Status

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

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

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.

Detailed Description

This is a multicenter, randomized, counterbalanced crossover study conducted in university students from eight Spanish universities.

Participants will first complete a familiarization session in which study procedures, cognitive assessments, and the participant identification system will be explained and practiced.

Each participant will subsequently complete four experimental sessions, separated by at least one week whenever feasible. Each experimental session will include:

  1. A 10-minute PRE assessment including Stroop and N-Back tests.
  2. Approximately 45 minutes of regular academic instruction.
  3. A 15-minute experimental classroom break.
  4. Up to 10 additional minutes of regular instruction.
  5. An immediate POST assessment including Stroop, N-Back, a 10-item academic performance test, perceived exertion, and interest-enjoyment.

The four experimental conditions will be:

A. Sedentary free break without academic content. B. Sedentary academic review using true/false questions. C. Active break without academic content. D. Physically active learning combining the same physical activities used in Condition C with academic true/false questions.

The order of the four conditions will be randomized and counterbalanced across participating groups. Participants will therefore act as their own controls.

A subsample of participants may wear accelerometers to objectively characterize physical activity and sedentary behavior during the experimental sessions.

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.
700

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

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Spain
    • Navarre
      • Pamplona, Navarre, Spain

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

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
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • University students aged 18 years or older.
  • Currently enrolled in one of the participating university courses/classes.
  • Provision of informed consent.
  • Ability to participate safely in light-to-moderate classroom physical activity.
  • Ability to complete computerized cognitive assessments.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Injury, illness, or medical condition contraindicating participation in physical activity.
  • Acute illness or other condition on the day of testing likely to substantially affect attention or cognitive performance.
  • Inability to complete the required computerized cognitive assessments.

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: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

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.
No Intervention: Sedentary Free Break
Participants complete a 15-minute sedentary break without structured physical activity or academic review.
Experimental: Sedentary Academic Review
Participants remain sedentary during a 15-minute academic review activity based on true/false questions related to content presented during the preceding 45 minutes of class.
Behavioral: Sedentary Academic Review
A 15-minute sedentary academic review activity using 10 true/false questions based on academic content presented during the first 45 minutes of the session.
Experimental: Active Break Without Academic Content
Participants complete a standardized 15-minute active break involving moderate physical activities without academic content.
Behavioral: Active Break
A standardized 15-minute classroom physical activity break without academic content.
Experimental: Physically Active Learning
Participants complete a standardized 15-minute physically active learning session combining physical movements with true/false questions related to academic content presented during the preceding 45 minutes.
Behavioral: Physically Active Learning
A standardized 15-minute intervention combining physical activity with academic true/false questions. Participants respond to academic questions through predefined physical movements.

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
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Inhibitory Control Assessed by the Stroop Test
Time Frame: Immediately before and approximately 10 minutes after the 15-minute experimental condition, during each of the four experimental sessions.
Inhibitory control will be assessed using the Stroop task. Outcomes will include response accuracy and reaction time. Acute change will be calculated by comparing PRE and POST performance within each experimental session.
Immediately before and approximately 10 minutes after the 15-minute experimental condition, during each of the four experimental sessions.
Change in Working Memory Assessed by the N-Back Test
Time Frame: Immediately before and approximately 10 minutes after the experimental condition, during each of the four experimental sessions.
Working memory will be assessed using the N-Back task. Outcomes will include accuracy, omissions/errors, and reaction time. Acute change will be calculated from PRE to POST within each experimental session.
Immediately before and approximately 10 minutes after the experimental condition, during each of the four experimental sessions.
Immediate Academic Performance
Time Frame: Approximately 10 minutes after the experimental condition, during each of the four experimental sessions.
Academic performance will be assessed using a 10-item multiple-choice test developed specifically for the academic content taught during each experimental session. Each question will have three response options and one correct answer. The outcome will be the number of correct responses, ranging from 0 to 10.
Approximately 10 minutes after the experimental condition, during each of the four experimental sessions.

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
Interest-Enjoyment
Time Frame: Approximately 10 minutes after the experimental condition, during each of the four experimental sessions.
Interest and enjoyment will be assessed using three items from the Interest/Enjoyment subscale of the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory.
Approximately 10 minutes after the experimental condition, during each of the four experimental sessions.
Rating of Perceived Exertion
Time Frame: Approximately 10 minutes after the experimental condition, during each of the four experimental sessions.
Perceived exertion during the 15-minute experimental condition will be assessed using a 0-10 Rating of Perceived Exertion scale, where higher scores indicate greater perceived exertion.
Approximately 10 minutes after the experimental condition, during each of the four experimental sessions.

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Physical Activity During Experimental Sessions
Time Frame: Throughout each experimental classroom session, approximately 2 hours.
In a subsample of participants, triaxial accelerometers will objectively assess sedentary time, light physical activity, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and mean activity intensity during the experimental sessions.
Throughout each experimental classroom session, approximately 2 hours.

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.
Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
University of Alcala
Universidad Pública de Navarra
Universidad Politecnica de Madrid
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
University of Castilla-La Mancha
Universitat de les Illes Balears
University of Huelva

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Carlos Martín-Martínez, PhD, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
  • Study Director: Óscar Martínez de Quel Pérez, PhD, Universidad Pública de Navarra

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.
September 15, 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.
June 30, 2027

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.
July 31, 2027

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).
September 3, 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.
September 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.
September 9, 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.
September 10, 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.
September 8, 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.
September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

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.
  • PAL-UNI-2026

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be publicly shared due to data protection and confidentiality considerations. Aggregated and anonymized study results may be made available upon reasonable request, subject to institutional and ethical approval.

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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