TIM™ — Thinking In Motion
Framework for Motor-Cognitive Challenge and Assessment
Why TIM?
Despite clear recommendations for both physical activity and cognitive engagement to maintain health most existing interventions either address physical activity and cognitive stimulation separately, or integrate them in ways that do not sufficiently reflect the complexity of real-world tasks. The result is that many combined activities fail to fully simulate the multi-layered challenges people encounter in daily life. This lack of ecological validity limits both practical impact and scientific advancement, highlighting the need for frameworks and tools that capture, design, and evaluate truly integrated motor-cognitive experiences.
What is TIM?
TIM is a structured theoretical framework developed by Shiri Embon Magal. tim dissects and organizes the main factors shaping cognitive load within motor-based and motor-cognitive interventions.
TIM is not a single tool, but a generalizable model for both research and practice. TIM supports design, adaptation, and systematic evaluation of interventions across the lifespan: midlife, older adults, children, fitness, rehabilitation, and educational settings
Example Exercise
TIM Principles Incorporated into an Aerobic Training
How does TIM work?
- Identifies and defines key factors contributing to cognitive load: novelty, speed, variability, control complexity, and instruction mode.
- Guides practitioners in crafting effective cognitive-motor challenges, supporting transfer, adaptation, and individualization.
- Serves as the basis for new practical tools:
- TIM-Q (Questionnaire): Assesses cognitive challenge in existing interventions (see link & forthcoming article).
- TIM-T (Test): Measures motor-cognitive function, validated for midlife (demo video & forthcoming article).
- Provides professional training, workshops, and implementation programs for practitioners
