Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable

Running Environments on Physiological Responses, Emotion, Motivation, and Attention

China30 participantsStarted 2026-04-10

Plain-language summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn how different running environments affect physiological responses, emotional regulation, exercise motivation, and attentional control in healthy college students. The main questions it aims to answer are: How do different running environments (indoor treadmill, outdoor road, and outdoor grass) affect physiological stress and recovery, such as heart rate variability, blood pressure, cortisol, and blood lactate levels? Are there differences in subjective emotional experiences, perceived recovery, and exercise motivation when running in natural versus artificial environments? Does the running environment influence post-exercise cognitive performance, specifically inhibitory control and sustained attention? Researchers will compare indoor treadmill running, outdoor road running, and outdoor grass running to see if natural environments provide greater benefits for stress relief, mood improvement, and cognitive enhancement. Participants will: Attend three separate 70-minute experimental sessions (one for each environment) with at least 48 hours between sessions. Complete baseline physiological measurements (HRV, blood pressure, saliva, and blood samples), psychological questionnaires, and computerized cognitive tasks. Complete a 30-minute moderate-intensity running session in the randomly assigned environment while wearing a heart rate monitor. Repeat the physiological measurements, psychological questionnaires, and cognitive tasks immediately and 10 minutes after the running session.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 25 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Full-time college students aged 18 to 25 years old. * Healthy, with no history of major cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, or endocrine diseases. * No exercise contraindications or injuries, capable of safely completing moderate-intensity running (treadmill, outdoor road, and grass running). * No recent major life events affecting physiological or psychological status (e.g., severe insomnia, anxiety, depression, or extreme fatigue). * No use of medications or supplements affecting heart rate, blood pressure, mood, or attention within the past week. * Normal or corrected-to-normal vision, capable of completing computerized cognitive tasks (e.g., Stroop, Go/No-Go, PVT). * Able to comprehend and truthfully complete psychological scales. * Voluntary participation and signed informed consent form. Exclusion Criteria: * Current or past diagnosis of severe cardiovascular disease (e.g., myocardial infarction, severe arrhythmia, uncontrolled hypertension). * Severe respiratory disease (e.g., severe asthma, COPD) or recent acute respiratory infection within the past month. * History of neurological disease or brain injury (e.g., epilepsy, recent concussion) affecting safety or cognitive task performance. * Endocrine or metabolic diseases (e.g., uncontrolled thyroid disease, severe diabetes) affecting cortisol or metabolic measurements. * Recent diagnosis or psychiatric treatment for severe psychological disorders within the past month. * Use of drugs or…

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Change in Salivary Cortisol Concentration

Timeframe: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 20 minutes post-exercise.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07494552

SponsorShanghai University of Sport

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-06-10

Contact for this trial

Xinyu Li

86+18380367935 1393414434@qq.com

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Sport Participation trials