Train Your Brain - Executive Function

Not Applicable

Active, not recruiting

• Conditions: Overweight and Obesity
• Interventions: Other: online games with images of flowers and songbirds; Other: online games with various food images

• Registration Number: NCT05938894
• Lead Sponsor: USDA Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center

Brief Summary

The purpose of this research is to test if playing games designed to improve an individual's executive function can change their views about the types of foods they eat. Executive function is a set of mental processes that people use every day to make decisions - such as what kinds of foods they choose to eat and when and where they eat those foods.

Detailed Description

The purpose of this study is to determine whether executive function (EF) training concurrently improves attitudes, perceptions, and consumption of nutrient-dense foods (i.e., fruits, vegetables) while worsening the same of nutrient-poor foods. In effect, the aim is to test whether EF training can promote the substitution of nutrient-poor foods with fruits and vegetables (FV), as the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommends regular consumption of FV as part of a healthy dietary pattern. Given the health benefits associated with consuming FV, EF training that effectively promotes increased FV intake may benefit health. For example, FV consumption is associated with the reduced risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and eye and skin health. Moreover, FV consumption is associated with better mental and cognitive health.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2023-05-07
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-07-10
• Study First Posted: 2023-07-11
• Study Start: 2023-09-25
• Status Verified: 2025-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-04-07
• Last Update Posted: 2025-04-10
• Primary Completion: 2025-12
• Study Completion: 2025-12

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 630

Inclusion Criteria

• BMI 23-38 kg/m2
• US citizenship
• Not currently dieting to lose weight and no weight loss or gain of >2 kg over the past 3 months
• No tobacco or e-cigarette use
• Not pregnant or lactating or planning to become pregnant while participating in the study

Exclusion Criteria

• Not a US citizen
• Currently dieting to lose weight
• Weight loss of >2 kg over the past 3 months
• Tobacco or e-cigarette use
• Pregnant or lactating or planning to become pregnant while participating in the study
• A history of bariatric surgery
• Diagnosis of major medical or psychiatric condition that would interfere with participation, including not being physically able to play the games, or a current eating disorder

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Control	online games with images of flowers and songbirds	Participants will complete four online games at least biweekly during the study.
EFfect-food choices	online games with various food images	Participants will complete four online games at least biweekly during the study.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in response time	Week 0, Week 9	Change in online game speed of response time
Change in percent correct	Week 0, Week 9	Change in online game percent correct

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

USDA Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center; 🇺🇸 Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States