What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aims to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture compared to exercise interventions on cognitive control and procrastination in college students.

April 6, 2026Open Access

Effects of acupuncture and exercise on EEG characteristics and cognitive control in college students with high procrastination tendency

Key Points

This study aims to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture compared to exercise interventions on cognitive control and procrastination in college students.
Conducted as a parallel randomized controlled trial involving 90 college students.
Students divided into three groups: acupuncture, Tai Chi, and running exercise.
Each group undergoes 30-minute sessions, three times per week for four weeks.
Outcome measures include the General Procrastination Scale (GPS) and scalp EEG assessments.
Improvements in procrastination scores noted in both acupuncture and exercise groups compared to baseline.
EEG findings reveal changes in cognitive control measures (P300 and N200) post-interventions.
Acupuncture demonstrated comparable efficacy to exercise in enhancing cognitive functions associated with procrastination.

Abstract

Procrastination is more than just a common human foible; it is a ubiquitous behavioral disorder that can negatively impact learning, productivity, and mental health. The psychological and neurological mechanisms underlying chronic procrastination are surprisingly complex, involving impairments in self-control, emotional regulation, and episode anticipation networks, and may lead to emotional distress, reduced self-confidence, and even physical symptoms that in turn can exacerbate procrastination. The aim of this proposed study is to investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture for university students with severe procrastination tendencies, to compare the efficacy of acupuncture to other potential interventions (Tai Chi and running exercise), and to examine the effects of acupuncture on cognitive functions related to procrastination. This parallel randomized controlled clinical trial will be conducted at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Henan Province, China. A total of ninety full-time college students will be randomly divided into three equal groups (acupuncture group, running group, and Tai Chi group). Each group will receive the assigned intervention for 30 min per session, 3 times per week on alternating weekdays, for a total of 4 weeks. The General Procrastination Scale (GPS) will serve as the primary outcome measure, while the Procrastination Assessment Scale for Students (PASS) and Physical Activity Rating Scale 3 (PARS-3) will be used as secondary outcome measures. Assessments using these outcome measures will be conducted at baseline (0 week) as well as after 2 and 4 weeks of intervention. Scalp electroencephalography (EEG) will be used to measure event-related potentials P300 and N200 during the Go/No-go Emotion Detection task and Task Initiation Delay Paradigm (TIDP) to investigate the impacts of these interventions on cognitive control and error detection abilities. Clinical trial registration: https://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojEN.html?proj=278360 , identifier: ChiCTR2500105950.

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