JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Multiple, independent lines of research on self-regulation point to executive cognitive ability (executive function/cognitive control) as a factor that underlies the capacity to successfully regulate one’s thoughts, emotion, and behavior. Critically, while leading theories point to the role of executive control in modifying ‘in-the-moment’ regulatory processes (e.g., enacting physical activity, resisting a poor dietary choice, reflecting on a stressful experience), few studies have tested the executive hypothesis at this timescale. Moreover, given normative changes in executive control across the adult lifespan, it is essential to understand how cognitive aging might impact these processes.

Objective:

The Physical Activity, Imaging, and Ambulatory Testing (PHIAT) project was designed to test how variation in executive control at multiple timescales (from moment-to-moment within-days to age-differences across decades) influences self-regulation across the adult lifespan.

Methods:

A 14-day, high-frequency, ambulatory assessment protocol was designed for the current study. The study was conducted in a measurement burst design and included a 14-day ecological momentary assessment (EMA) protocol involving 6 assessments per day. Ultra-brief ambulatory cognitive assessments of multiple domains of cognition were included in the EMA protocol. Throughout the measurement burst, participants also wore 3 activity monitors on the hip, thigh, and wrist to measure physical activity/exercise, sedentary behavior, and to self-monitor physical activity behavior, respectively.

Results:

A total of N=221 participants ranging from 18-89 years of age completed the PHIAT protocol over the course of 2021 to 2024. EMA data was collected from participants reflecting a wide range of psychosocial factors surrounding participation in health-promoting behaviors (motivation, intention, stress, built environment, social cognitive factors). This EMA data stream is complemented by data from high-frequency, ambulatory cognitive assessments measuring processing speed, working memory capacity, inhibitory control, and divided/sustained attention administered 5 times per day throughout the 14-day burst. In addition, health promoting behaviors, including sleep, diet, hydration, physical activity, and exercise, were assessed throughout the 14-day burst through a combination of EMA self-report and continuous activity monitoring.

Conclusions:

A rich, high-frequency dataset was generated by the PHIAT project that will provide a range of novel insights into the motivational, information processing, and environmental factors that surround self-regulation of health-promoting behavior.