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Guided Imagery to Increase Physical Activity in Mid-Life Adults

This study is exploring whether different types of guided imagery can help adults aged 45-65 stick to a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) exercise program. Researchers are testing four types of guided imagery: Episodic Future Thinking, Episodic Recent Thinking, Positive Affective Imagery, and Neutral Affective Imagery. The goal is to see if these mental exercises can make people more excited about working out and improve their physical activity habits. Success will be measured by how well participants adhere to the HIIT exercise, their choices related to rewards, and their positive feelings. The study is currently recruiting 160 participants, but its overall status is unclear.

Study design
This study is an interventional trial planning to enroll 160 adults aged 45-65. It uses a within-subject design, meaning each participant will experience different components of guided imagery.
What's involved
You would complete testing at the beginning, after 6 weeks of an in-person exercise program, and 6 weeks after finishing the program. Testing includes an exercise test, MRI, questionnaires, computer tasks, and a blood draw.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for 6 weeks after the exercise intervention ends, with assessments at 12 weeks from the start of the study.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06123182

Guided Episodic Future Thinking to Increase Physical Activity Adherence and Promote Healthy Brain Aging

Recruiting
NAAges 45–65InterventionalPrevention
University of Kansas Medical Center
~160 participants
Updated 2026-03-27 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Episodic Future ThinkingEpisodic Recent ThinkingPositive Affective ImageryNeutral Affective ImageryHIIT Exercise Intervention

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Adherence to HIIT exercise
Measured over 1 to 6-weeks
+2 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Exercise Training
Aging

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Aging

NCT06123182

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • University of Kansas Medical Center

    Kansas City, Kansasstudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Laura Martin · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Kansas Medical Center

Who to contact

Morgan Brucks
[email protected]
(913) 588-0173
Email the study team

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

speak English
have access to reliable communication (a telephone or cell phone, computer, etc.)
normal or corrected to normal vision and hearing
ambulatory (without the use of assistive devices)
physically underactive
able to give informed consent
able to exercise continuously on the recumbent stepper exercise device for 4 minutes greater than or equal to 25 watts to demonstrate ability to perform exercise on stepper \& no aerobic exercise contraindications or other safety/physical concerns
able to communicate with investigators, follow 2-step command \& correctly answer consent comprehension questions
stable blood pressure and statin medication doses for 30 days as these affect vascular health/hemodynamics
willing and able to safely enter magnetic resonance (MR) scanner and attempt the MR scan
willing and able to attempt a blood draw

Exclusion

patients with arrhythmias or acute cardiac events will be excluded due to potential complications with the supervised moderate exercise
at risk for hazard due to magnetic fields due to MR safety concerns
have any neurologic or psychiatric disorder except depression, anxiety (including post-traumatic stress disorder)
have history of seizures or head trauma due to MR data quality

What this trial measures

  • Adherence to HIIT exercise1 to 6-weeks

    Adherence will be calculated as percent sessions attended each week and percent minutes during which the participant adhered to the HIIT protocol.

  • The Monetary-Choice Questionnaire1 to 6-weeks

    The Monetary-Choice Questionnaire is a 27-item self-administered questionnaire. For each item, the participant chooses between a smaller, immediate monetary reward and a larger, delayed monetary reward. The investigators will behaviorally assess participants' preferences for immediately available smaller rewards vs. delayed larger rewards.

  • Positive Affect1 to 6-weeks

    The Feeling Scale is a single item measure of core affect on which participants are asked to rate their current feelings on an 11-point scale ranging from -5 (very bad) to 5 (very good).