Previous observational studies have reported an association between higher air pollution exposure and lower attention in children. With this project, the investigators aim to confirm this association in adolescents using an experimental design. In addition, the study will assess the relationship between air pollution exposure and individual preferences with respect to risk, time and social considerations. High school students in 3rd grade (ESO, 14-15 years of age) in different high schools in the Barcelona province (Spain) will be invited to participate. For each class in each high school, participating students will be randomly split into two equal-sized groups. Each group will be assigned to a different classroom where they will complete several activities during two hours, including an attention test (Flanker task) and a reduced version of the Global Preferences Survey. One of the classrooms will have an air purifier that will clean the air. The other classroom will have the same device but without the filters, so it will only re-circulate the air without cleaning it. Students will be masked to intervention allocation. The investigators hypothesize that students assigned to the clean air classroom will have better scores in the attention test, and that decision-making will also present differences in the two classrooms.
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Response Speed Consistency Throughout the Attention Network Task-Flanker Task (Post ANT)
Timeframe: Obtained from a test administered approximately 90 minutes after entering the classroom
Combined Risk Taking Score
Timeframe: Obtained from a test administered approximately 100 minutes after entering the classroom
Combined Patience Score
Timeframe: Obtained from a test administered approximately 100 minutes after entering the classroom
Positive Reciprocity Score
Timeframe: Obtained from a test administered approximately 100 minutes after entering the classroom
Altruism Score
Timeframe: Obtained from a test administered approximately 100 minutes after entering the classroom
Trust Score
Timeframe: Obtained from a test administered approximately 100 minutes after entering the classroom