CHPS RESEARCH STUDIES

The Hungry Mind: Fasting, Sustained Attention, and Working Memory in Muslim College Students Living in America

This research study examines how voluntary fasting affects sustained attention, working memory, and focus in Muslim-American college students, and how sleep, hunger, and stress relate to those changes. We will enroll up to 60 UCF students (ages 18 to 30) who identify as Muslim-American and report voluntary Sunnah fasting on Mondays and/or Thursdays. Participation lasts about 7 days: two in-person visits at the UCF Innovative Center plus at-home wear of a wrist-worn actigraph and a brief daily sleep diary. At both visits (about 60 minutes each), participants complete short surveys on sleep, hunger, fatigue, and stress, three cognitive tasks (SART, 2-Back, Stroop), and a heartbeat perception task using ECG stickers. Visit 1 falls on a fasting day and includes receiving the actigraph; Visit 2 follows about 6 nights of wear and includes returning it. Total in-person time is about 2 hours, with 20 to 35 minutes of at-home time over the week. Risks are minimal, mainly mild skin irritation from the ECG electrodes. There are no guaranteed benefits. Participation is voluntary, with a $20 Amazon gift card prorated across the two visits.

Inclusion Qualifications:

18 to 30 years of age
Currently enrolled at UCF as an undergraduate or graduate student
Identifies as Muslim-American
Will voluntary fast on Thursday

Exclusion Qualifications:

You may not participate in this research opportunity if any of the following applies to you:

Diagnosed sleep disorders (e.g., insomnia, sleep apnea), neurological conditions, or psychiatric disorders known to affect executive functions or sleep (e.g., major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD)
Current use of medications known to significantly alter sleep, appetite, or cognition
Student athletes who report major dietary or sleep regimen changes related to training or competition that could confound fasting effects

Participate in this Research

Submitting this form will put you in contact with the main point of contact for this project. They will provide more information and determine if you meet all of the qualifications needed.

"*" indicates required fields

URL

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Title of Opportunity

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Tag

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Contact Person's Email

First Name*

Last Name*

Phone*

Email*

Sex*

Notify me of future research participation opportunities

* Please note that completion of this form does not automatically enroll you or guarantee you a spot in this research opportunity. The information provided in this form will never be shared with 3rd parties. You can also unsubscribe from future notifications at any time.