Keywords

Ramadan fasting; Executive function; Working memory

Abstract

Ramadan fasting represents a unique intersection of religious observance and academic responsibility for Muslim college students in the United States. Despite the growing Muslim student population, no U.S.-based research has examined how fasting influences executive functioning within this group. This study investigated the effects of voluntary Islamic fasting on executive functions, specifically working memory, inhibitory control, and sustained attention, using a within-subject crossover design. Muslim undergraduate and graduate students who regularly observe Sunnah fasts completed cognitive testing on one fasting day and one non-fasting day. Working memory was assessed using the 2-back task, inhibitory control using the Stroop task, and sustained attention using the Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART). Objective sleep was measured using wrist-worn actigraphy to account for changes in sleep duration and quality, and subjective hunger, fatigue, and stress ratings were collected during each session. Data from five participants were analyzed using descriptive comparisons between conditions. Overall, cognitive performance remained largely stable across fasting and non-fasting conditions, with minimal differences observed in accuracy and reaction time. Sleep outcomes varied across participants, with some showing improved sleep consolidation during fasting and others demonstrating increased fragmentation, but these changes did not correspond to consistent differences in cognitive performance. These findings suggest that short-term fasting may not meaningfully impair executive functioning in this sample. This study provides preliminary insight into fasting-related cognitive patterns among Muslim college students in the United States and highlights the need for larger studies to further examine behavioral, physiological, and sleep-related influences on executive function during fasting.

Thesis Completion Year

2026

Thesis Completion Semester

Spring

Thesis Chair

Shanté Jeune

College

College of Health Professions and Sciences

Department

Health Sciences

Thesis Discipline

Health Sciences

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus Access

None

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

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Rights Statement

In Copyright