Effects of Performing Arts on Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

NCT07318935 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: VT_IRB_23-811
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 69
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study examined whether dance-based video gaming could help young adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) improve attention, emotional wellbeing, and self-regulation. ADHD can affect focus, impulse control, coordination, and mood. Although medications are helpful for many individuals, they may produce side effects, may not lead to lasting improvement, or may not be accessible to everyone. Because of this, there has been growing interest in enjoyable, accessible, non-medication approaches to support symptom management. This research evaluated how different activities influenced the brain, body, and behavior. Participants were young adults ages 18-24 with a formal ADHD diagnosis. Each participant completed two visits: a baseline visit and an intervention visit. At baseline, participants completed questionnaires measuring ADHD symptoms, mood, and daily functioning. They also performed computer-based tasks assessing attention, inhibition, mental flexibility, and working memory while wearing an electroencephalography (EEG) cap to measure brain activity and a wearable heart rate monitor. Participants also completed balance assessments using a force plate that measured postural control. At the intervention visit, participants were randomly assigned to one of three 30-minute conditions:

• Dance exergaming (Just Dance video game) - active, dance-based movement
• Stationary biking - aerobic exercise while listening to music and watching dance gameplay videos
• Music listening - seated condition listening to the same music and watching the same videos During these activities, EEG and heart rate were recorded. Afterward, participants repeated the same brain, cognitive, and balance assessments completed at baseline. A cool-down period was provided in all groups. This study allowed investigators to examine ADHD from multiple perspectives. The study assessed how movement, music, and dance influenced symptoms; how the brain responded during and after these activities; how the heart and nervous system adapted; and how balance and motor control changed. The study also evaluated how these systems (brain, body, and behavior) interacted with one another. By comparing dance exergaming with traditional aerobic exercise and a non-exercise condition, this study aimed to determine whether dance-based activity provided distinct benefits for young adults with ADHD. The goal was to better understand whether fun, creative, and widely accessible activities could support attention, emotional wellbeing, and physical regulation and whether they could complement existing treatment approaches.

Conditions

ADHD

Keywords

electroencephalography; dance; exergaming; exercise; music; cognition; executive function; affective state; mood

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• ADHD Symptom Severity

  Total score (0 to 72) on the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) - v 1.1; higher scores indicate greater symptom severity

  Within 1 week prior to and after invention

Secondary Outcomes (14)

• Depression level

  Within 1 week prior to and after invention

• Anxiety level

  Within 1 week prior to and after invention

• Attention

  Within 1 week prior to and after invention

• Inhibition

  Within 1 week prior to and after invention

• Inhibition

  Within 1 week prior to and after intervention

Other Outcomes (6)

• Sex

  Within 1 week prior to intervention

• Age

  Within 1 week prior to intervention

• Race

  Within 1 week prior to intervention

Study Arms (3)

Dance Exergaming

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants completed a 30-minute Just Dance exergaming session.

Behavioral: Dance Exergaming

Stationary Cycling

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants completed a 30-minute stationary cycling session with matched audiovisual stimulation.

Behavioral: Stationary Cycling

Music Listening

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants remained seated and listened to the matched song playlist while viewing Just Dance gameplay.

Behavioral: Music Listening

Interventions

Dance Exergaming BEHAVIORAL

Participants in this intervention completed a dance-based exergaming session (Just Dance 2024) using the Nintendo Switch connected to a large projection screen. Each participant engaged in solo gameplay on Just Dance, following an on-screen coach through choreographed dance sequences set to selected songs. Only songs classified by the game developers as "Easy" were used to ensure consistent difficulty and exertion levels across participants. The total gameplay duration was 30 minutes. During the session, participants wore a Polar heart rate monitor to allow researchers to track physiological responses in real time.

Dance Exergaming

Music Listening BEHAVIORAL

Participants in this intervention remained seated and listened to the same songs used in the Just Dance intervention for approximately 30 minutes in a randomized order. During the session, they also watched prerecorded Just Dance gameplay videos to ensure visual stimulation matched across intervention conditions. During the session, participants wore a Polar heart rate monitor to allow researchers to track physiological responses in real time.

Music Listening

Stationary Cycling BEHAVIORAL

Participants in this intervention completed a stationary bike exercise session while listening to the same songs used in the dance exergaming condition. During biking, they watched prerecorded Just Dance gameplay videos to provide matched audiovisual stimulation across interventions. Before beginning the main session, participants performed a 3-minute self-paced warm-up and completed stretching as needed. Resistance on the bike was adjusted at the participant's preferred pace until they reached 50% of their age-predicted maximum heart rate, calculated as 220 minus age. Heart rate was continuously monitored using a Polar heart rate monitor to ensure they remained within the target training zone. Participants cycled for 30 minutes while listening to the randomized playlist.

Stationary Cycling

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 24 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Ages 18 to 24
• Formal diagnosis of ADHD (inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, or combined)

You may not qualify if:

• Current comorbid neurological disorder (e.g. seizure disorder; multiple sclerosis), tourette syndrome, or epileptic disorder
• Contraindication to physical activity
• Pregnancy
• Incarceration
• Inability to consent on own behalf
• Non-ambulatory

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Motor Activity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders; Behavior

Study Officials

• Julia C Basso, PhD

  Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 8, 2025
• First Posted: January 6, 2026
• Study Start: May 3, 2024
• Primary Completion: March 26, 2025
• Study Completion: March 26, 2025
• Last Updated: January 6, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, ANALYTIC CODE
• Time Frame: Data will be made available beginning 12 months after publication of the primary results and will remain accessible for 5 years.
• Access Criteria: Qualified researchers may request access by submitting a brief proposal to the Principal Investigator outlining study aims and data security procedures. De-identified behavioral, physiological, and electroencephalography (EEG) data from this study will be shared.

Locations

US (1)