Differential Effects of Acute Exercise on Distinct Aspects of Executive Function

TIMOTHY WENG; GARY PIERCE; WARREN DARLING; MICHELLE VOSS

doi:10.1249/MSS.0000000000000542

Back

Differential Effects of Acute Exercise on Distinct Aspects of Executive Function

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Differential Effects of Acute Exercise on Distinct Aspects of Executive Function

TIMOTHY WENG, GARY PIERCE, WARREN DARLING and MICHELLE VOSS

Medicine and science in sports and exercise, Vol.47(7), pp.1460-1469

07/2015

DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000542

PMID: 25304335

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000000542View

Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

PURPOSETo increase understanding about the effects of moderate-intensity physical activity on cognitive function, the current study examined whether a single bout of aerobic exercise exerts differential effects on distinct aspects of executive function in healthy young adults. METHODSA within-subjects study was designed where 26 young adult participants (mean age = 25.23 yr, 12 males) engaged in a 30-min bout of both (a) moderate-intensity aerobic cycling and (b) passive motor-driven cycling, occurring on two separate occasions and counterbalanced in their order. To assess changes in cognitive function, performance on two tasks of executive function—working memory and inhibitory control, counterbalanced in the order of administration—was collected before and immediately after each exercise session. RESULTSResults indicate that working memory performance on the 2-back condition of a facial n-back task was acutely enhanced by moderate-intensity exercise (mean increase in accuracy = 6.4% ± 1.1%), which was significantly greater than the changes after passive exercise control (P < 0.05). This finding was not observed for inhibitory control in which neither of the exercise sessions elicited significant changes in performance on a flanker task. CONCLUSIONSAcute aerobic exercise evokes differential effects on executive functions. This specificity in behavioral outcomes leads to the prediction that brain mechanisms related to working memory, compared to inhibitory control, are selectively benefited by moderate-intensity exercise.

Details

Title: Subtitle: Differential Effects of Acute Exercise on Distinct Aspects of Executive Function
Creators: TIMOTHY WENG - 1Department of Psychology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA; and 2Department of Health and Human Physiology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
GARY PIERCE
WARREN DARLING
MICHELLE VOSS
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Medicine and science in sports and exercise, Vol.47(7), pp.1460-1469
DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000542
PMID: 25304335
NLM abbreviation: Med Sci Sports Exerc
ISSN: 0195-9131
eISSN: 1530-0315
Publisher: American College of Sports Medicine
Language: English
Date published: 07/2015
Academic Unit: Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science; Health, Sport, and Human Physiology ; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984002466102771

Metrics

61 Record Views

74 Times Cited - Web of Science