Effects of aerobic exercise on emotion regulation and cognitive control in PTSD

The Effects of a Single Bout of Aerobic Exercise on Emotion Regulation and Cognitive Control in Individuals With Clinically Significant Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms

NA · Michigan State University · NCT05643716

This study tests whether a 20-minute session of aerobic exercise can help women with PTSD manage their emotions and think more clearly compared to just sitting quietly.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment50 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 45 Years
SexFemale
SponsorMichigan State University (other)
Locations1 site (East Lansing, Michigan)
Trial IDNCT05643716 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates how a single session of aerobic exercise impacts emotion regulation and cognitive control in women experiencing significant PTSD symptoms. Fifty adult females will be randomly assigned to either a 20-minute moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise group or a control group that engages in silent sitting. Participants will undergo neurophysiological monitoring via EEG while completing cognitive tasks before and after the intervention to assess changes in brain activity related to emotion and cognition. The study aims to provide insights into the potential therapeutic effects of exercise on PTSD symptoms.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are adult females currently experiencing clinically significant PTSD symptoms.

Not a fit: Patients with cardiovascular or metabolic diseases, orthopedic limitations, or a history of head trauma may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could offer a non-pharmacological intervention to improve emotional and cognitive functioning in patients with PTSD.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results regarding the benefits of exercise on mental health, particularly in PTSD, suggesting this approach is both relevant and potentially effective.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Female Adults who are currently experiencing clinically significant PTSD symptoms. Participants will be screened via Qualtrics using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for the DSM-5 (PCL-5; Weathers et al., 2013). The PCL-5 is a 20-item self-administered questionnaire designed to screen for PTSD. The PCL-5 asks about the frequency of PTSD symptoms experienced in the past month using a 5-point Likert scale. Participants with a total score \> 30 on the PCL-5 will be eligible to participate.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Using the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q; Adams, 1999), participants will be excluded if they endorse any history of cardiovascular (e.g., Coronary Artery Disease, Heart Failure, High Blood Pressure) or metabolic disease (e.g., Diabetes), or any orthopedic limitations (e.g., Osteoporosis) that may interfere with participating in aerobic exercise.
* Additionally, participants must not have a history of head trauma resulting in loss of consciousness for more than 5 min, epilepsy, or hearing, visual, or other physical or mental impairments that could interfere with the collection of quality neurocognitive data.

Where this trial is running

East Lansing, Michigan

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Emotion Regulation, Cognitive Control, PTSD, Exercise

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.