Acute aerobic exercise and information processing: modulation of executive control in a Random Number Generation task.
The immediate and short-term aftereffects of a bout of aerobic exercise on young adults' executive functions were assessed. Sixteen participants performed a Random Number Generation (RNG) task, which measured two aspects of executive function, before, during, and after ergometer cycling exercise. In a separate session, participants completed the same sequence of testing while seated on an ergometer without pedaling. Results suggest that aerobic exercise: (1) selectively influences RNG indices related to the ability to alternate ascending and descending runs throughout the entire exercise bout; (2) induces a shift to a less effortful number generation strategy, particularly during the first few minutes of the exercise; and (3) has no significant influence on RNG performance as soon as the exercise terminates. The strategic adjustments observed during the exercise are interpreted in the framework of Hockey's [Hockey, G. R. J. (1997). Compensatory control in the regulation of human performance under stress and high workload: A cognitive-energetical framework. Biological Psychology, 45, 73-93.] compensatory control model and suggest that concurrent effortful processes induced by cycling exercise may draw upon available attention resources and influence executive processing.
Audiffren
Michel
M
Université de Poitiers, Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition et l'Apprentissage, CNRS, MSHS, 90 Avenue du Recteur Pineau, 86000 Poitiers, France. michel.audiffren@mshs.univ-poitiers.fr
Tomporowski
Phillip D
PD
Zagrodnik
James
J
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001642:Bicycling; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult