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Exercise to Enhance Fear Extinction Learning for PTSD

This study is looking at whether exercise can help people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) better manage their fear responses. Researchers believe that exercise, specifically on a seated exercise cycle, might improve how the brain "unlearns" fear, which is a process called fear extinction learning. This is important because current treatments for PTSD don't work for everyone. You might be able to join if you are between 18 and 55 years old and are currently experiencing at least four PTSD symptoms, including at least one re-experiencing symptom (like flashbacks or nightmares). The study will measure how your expectation of threat changes after the exercise intervention, one day and then 7-13 days later, to see if the exercise is successful in reducing fear.

Study design
This is an interventional study planning to enroll 200 participants. The specific phase of the study is not specified.
What's involved
Participants will engage in a 26-minute exercise session on a seated exercise cycle, including a warm-up, 20 minutes of exercise at a desired intensity, and a cool-down. Heart rate will be monitored, and perceived effort assessed every two minutes during exercise.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your threat expectation will be measured one day after the intervention and again 7-13 days after the intervention.

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

NCT07548125

Using Exercise to Enhance Fear Extinction Learning

Recruiting
NAAges 18–55InterventionalTreatment
Josh Cisler
~200 participants
Updated 2026-04-23 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Exercise

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Threat Expectation
Measured over Threat expectation to conditioned stimuli is measured with a 4pt Likert Scale (range 0-3) in response to conditioned stimuli, using self-report, as a measure of cognitive features of fear, one day after intervention and 7-13 days after intervention.

Conditions

PTSD
Exercise Intensity
Fear Extinction
Fear Conditioning

Explore related trials

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Texas1

Who to contact

Josh M Cisler, PhD
[email protected]
512-495-5162
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Age 18 - 55 years of age
Currently experiencing at least 4 PTSD symptoms with at least 1 re-experiencing symptom (e.g., trauma memory intrusion, trauma nightmares, trauma flashbacks, intense emotional distress related to trauma, or marked physiological reactivity related to trauma) from criterion B.
English speaking
Medically healthy

Exclusion

being pregnant
having a history of light headedness or fainting during physical activity
having a history of chest pain during physical activity
having a bone, joint, cardiac, or other medical condition that a doctor has said may be worsened by physical activity
responding 'Yes' to any of the seven questions on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q; unless they provide a doctor's note indicating that it is safe for them to engage in aerobic exercise )
percutaneous coronary intervention or acute myocardial infarction in the last 6 weeks
unstable arrhythmias/implanted cardiac defibrillator shocks in the last 3 months
Internal ferromagnetic objects (such as electronic devices, surgical implants, shrapnel, etc.)
Nonremovable dental implants, such as braces or upper permanent retainers, as these will distort the MRI images we collect (note: filings, crowns, and silver or gold teeth are OK)
Any other condition, medication, or implant that the investigator believes would degrade image quality or render data unusable
psychotic disorders
Permanent makeup or tattoos with metallic dyes,
A self-reported history of loss of consciousness (greater than 30 minutes)
physical disabilities that prohibit task performance (such as blindness or deafness)
Any other condition that the investigator believes might put the participant at risk
Claustrophobia
History of cardiovascular disease
on-going traumatic event exposure (e.g., living with an abusive partner)
Severe substance use disorder.
unstable medication (changes within the past \~4 weeks)
Acute sedatives/pain killers (e.g., benzodiazepines, Vicodin) and prescription stimulants (e.g., Adderall) would not be permitted for 6 hours prior to the study visit.

What this trial measures

  • Threat ExpectationThreat expectation to conditioned stimuli is measured with a 4pt Likert Scale (range 0-3) in response to conditioned stimuli, using self-report, as a measure of cognitive features of fear, one day after intervention and 7-13 days after intervention.

    Threat expectation is a cognitive process and measure of fear towards conditioned stimuli