How exercise timing affects mental sharpness and resistance to fatigue during an 8-hour workday

The Effect of Different Physical Activity Strategy on Cognitive Efficiency and Mental Fatigue Resistance During a Simulated Mental Working Day

This project will test whether moderate aerobic exercise done before or after an 8-hour mentally demanding workday, or using a combined work–exercise model, helps healthy adults stay mentally sharp and resist fatigue.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 65 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Lithuanian Sports University (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: chemotherapy
• Locations: 1 site (Kaunas)
• Trial ID: NCT07130825 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This interventional study has healthy adult participants complete an 8-hour simulated mentally demanding workday while following different physical activity strategies: moderate-intensity aerobic exercise before the workday, after the workday, or a combined work–exercise model. Participants will perform cognitive tasks throughout the simulated workday and will have measures taken of mental and emotional fatigue, cognitive performance and efficiency, autonomic balance (sympathetic and parasympathetic activity), and metabolic indicators. Interventions are standardized moderate-intensity aerobic sessions and an integrated combined model, with comparisons focused on immediate and sustained effects on fatigue and cognitive metrics. The study aims to clarify whether the timing or integration of exercise into the workday alters physiological stress responses and preserves cognitive function during prolonged mental work.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Healthy adults who are non-smokers, have BMI 18.5–24.9, no chronic medical or psychiatric conditions, normal or corrected vision and color vision, and stable blood pressure and a resting heart rate around 60 bpm are the intended participants.

Not a fit: People with chronic cardiovascular, metabolic, psychiatric, oncologic, respiratory, musculoskeletal disorders, smokers, those outside the BMI or vital sign ranges, or with impaired color vision are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help healthy office workers use timed moderate aerobic exercise to remain more mentally alert and less fatigued during long, demanding workdays.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research shows exercise can improve cognition and mood, but direct comparisons of before-versus-after exercise timing and combined work models specifically for resisting mental fatigue are limited, so this approach is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* BMI from 18.5 to 24.9 kg/ m2;
* No chronic non-communicable diseases;
* No mental illnesses or disorders;
* No cancer and no chemotherapy in the last 5 years;
* No hearing impairment;
* No smoking;
* No psychotropic substances;
* Heart rate (HR) about 60 bpm at rest;
* Unimpaired color vision;
* Unimpaired or corrected vision;
* Systolic blood pressure from 90 to 139 mmHg, and diastolic - from 50 to 89 mmHg at rest.

Exclusion Criteria:

* mental, oncological, metabolic, cardiovascular, skeletal, muscular, respiratory system disorders or diseases, impaired color vision.

Where this trial is running

Kaunas

• Institute of Sport Science and Innovations — Kaunas, Lithuania (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Marius Brazaitis, professor

Conditions Healthy Adults