Sedentary Activities and Passive-to-Intense Effects on Neuro-Cognitive States (SAPIENS)

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Enrolling by invitation
• Conditions: Cognition; Sedentary Behaviors
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Baseline Cognitive Load; Behavioral: Maximum Cognitive Load; Behavioral: Mental active/pasive activities

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 8
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Chile
  • Viña Del Mar, Chile
    • Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

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.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Baseline Cognitive Condition	Behavioral: Baseline Cognitive Load; Participants will sit quietly for 5 minutes to establish baseline spontaneous neurophysiological parameters.
Active Comparator: Maximum Cognitive Load Condition	Behavioral: Maximum Cognitive Load; Participants will perform a working memory task (through N-back 1-to-3) to evaluate the upper limit of cognitive demand.
Experimental: Experimental Mentally Active and Mentally Passive Sedentary Activities	Behavioral: Mental 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: playing a videogame (Tetris ®); listening a podcast (including a final question); watching a documentary (including a final question); reading a document extract (including a final question); watch a reality show extract (including a final question); listening music, they like it; scrolling their Tik-Tok/Instagram

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Electroencephalography-derived cortical activity (EEG)	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.	Day 1 and 2
Hemodynamic Response (fNIRS)	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.	Day 1 and 2
Eye-Tracking Metrics	This outcome will be evaluated using a validated portable eye tracker (Pupil Core) to assess eye metrics.	Day 1 and 2
Heart Rate Variability (HRV)	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).	Day 1 and 2
Critical Flicker Fusion Threshold (Flicker Fusion)	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).	Day 1 and 2
Self-Reported Cognitive Load (NASA-TLX)	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.	day 2

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 6, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 23, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): July 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 23, 2025
• Last Verified: July 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: BIOEPUCV-H 858-2024

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No