Year: 2015
Type: dissertation
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: Engagement in physical activity or exercise is beneficial for many different aspects of health. Cognitive health is one area in particular that has shown considerable benefits from exercise. Acute exercise paradigms have more recently been used and found to provide immediate enhancements to higher-level cognition, such as executive function and working memory. The goal of the current study was to understand how different intensities of aerobic exercise cycling influence post working memory performance and to see if the effects differ depending on whether working memory is measured immediately following exercise or after a 15 minute delay. A total of 120 participants were randomly assigned to one of four exercise intensity conditions, low, moderate, high or a resting control. Participants??? working memory was assessed at their first baseline session. During the second session, participants cycled or rested for 30 minutes and working memory was assessed immediately following and 15 minutes following the exercise or rest period. Results showed that working memory scores increased over time regardless of the condition. Further analysis also showed that working memory scores were higher following a 15 minute delay for both the low and moderate exercise conditions and there was a trend towards higher working memory scores immediately following exercise for the high intensity condition. Taken together, these results highlight the complex nature of the relationship between acute exercise and cognition.
Author: Alexa Kliebenstein
Language: English
Topic: Physical Activity and Health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2229896578