title: Cardiovascular fitness and executive control during task-switching: an ERP study.
abstract: Cardiovascular fitness recently has been linked to executive control function in older adults. The present study examined the relationship between cardiovascular fitness and executive control in young adults using event-related potentials (ERPs). Participants completed a two-part experiment. In part one, a graded exercise test (GXT) was administered using a cycle ergometer to obtain VO(2)max, a measure of maximal oxygen uptake. High-fit participants had VO(2)max measures at or above the 70th percentile based on age and sex, and low-fit participants had VO(2)max measures at or below the 30th percentile. In part two, a task-switching paradigm was used to investigate executive control. Task-switching trials produced slower response times and greater amplitude for both the P3a and P3b components of the ERP relative to a non-switch trial block. No ERP components varied as a function of fitness group. These findings, combined with results from previous research, suggest that the relationship between greater cardiovascular fitness and better cognitive function emerges after early adulthood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Clemson University, 420 Brackett Hall, Clemson, SC 29634, USA. jscisco@clemson.edu
authors.forename: Jenna L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Scisco
authors.forename: P Andrew
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Leynes
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002319:Cardiovascular System; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D018913:Event-Related Potentials, P300 / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors