Additional file 2: of Virtual training leads to real acute physical, cognitive, and neural benefits on healthy adults: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

CONSORT checklist. A table specifying where any CONSORT item has been addressed in the protocol manuscript. (DOC 217 kb

Additional file 1: of Virtual training leads to real acute physical, cognitive, and neural benefits on healthy adults: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

SPIRIT checklist. A table specifying where any SPIRIT item has been addressed in the protocol manuscript. (DOC 123 kb

Experimental phases.

Participants were asked to draw straight vertical lines continuously and without interruption using a pen on top of a graphics tablet (Fig 1A). During the baseline phase, participants saw the virtual hand drawing the same lines as they drew either in 1PP (Fig 1B) or in 3PP (Fig 1C). During the deviation phase, the virtual hand was seen to draw ellipses and not lines either in 1PP (Fig 1D) or in 3PP (Fig 1E).</p

Summary of the main correlations described in the text.

All correlations are evaluated with a Spearman correlation coefficient.</p

Results of ovalization difference.

Means and standard errors for the OD (OI in deviation minus OI in baseline phase) in the two conditions. The OD was significantly higher in the 1PP condition compared to the 3PP (p = 0.001, PSdep = 0.933).</p

Questionnaires and results of subjective reports after deviation phase.

Medians and interquartile ranges of the deviation’ phases items rated on a 1 to 7 Likert scale, p-values and effect sizes of the within groups comparisons between 1PP and 3PP.</p

Results of correlations between OD and subjective scores.

Scatterplot of OD (deviation minus baseline phase) with arm ownership (i5) and agency (i7) during the deviation phase, respectively.</p

Means and standard deviations of the amount of completed cycles drawn for each condition in each phase.

At Wilcoxon-matched pair test, no significant differences were found.</p

Questionnaires and results of subjective reports during training phase.

Medians and interquartile ranges of the training phase items rated on a 1 to 7 Likert scale, p-values and effect sizes of the within groups comparisons between 1PP and 3PP.</p

Table_1_Study Protocol: Does an Acute Intervention of High-Intensity Physical Exercise Followed by a Brain Training Video Game Have Immediate Effects on Brain Activity of Older People During Stroop Task in fMRI?—A Randomized Controlled Trial With Crossover Design.DOC

Background: Elderly people are affected by processes leading to decline in various aspects of daily living that impair their quality of life. Regarding neurological aspects, executive functions have been shown to be valuable for daily life and to slow decline during aging. Most intervention studies intended to improve cognitive functions during aging specifically address long-term destructive processes and countermeasures. However, to an increasing degree, studies also investigate the acute benefits that prove to be useful for daily life, such as physical exercise or video games in the form of exercise video gaming (“exergaming”). Because little is known about the change in cognitive ability following acute intervention of a combination of physical exercise and video gaming, especially for older people, this work is designed as an attempt to address this matter.Methods: This study is a randomized crossover controlled trial to test the response to an acute bout of high-intensity physical exercise followed by a short session with a brain training (Brain Age) video game in physically active and cognitively healthy older adults (60–70 years). The response is measured using Stroop task performance (cognitive task for executive function) and related brain activity assessed with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The control conditions are low-intensity physical exercise and Tetris for video gaming.Discussion: This study is intended to provide insight into the alteration of executive function and its related brain activity from an acute intervention with a combination of physical exercise and video gaming in older people. The protocol might not be implementable in daily life to improve cognitive abilities. However, the results can support future studies that investigate cognition and the combination of physical exercise and video gaming. Moreover, it can provide real-life implications.Trial registration: This trial was registered in The University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000033054). Registered 19 July 2018, https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000037687.</p