title: Visual threat detection during moderate- and high-intensity exercise.
abstract: The aim of the study was to assess performance on a visual threat-detection task during concurrently performed vigorous exercise on a cycle ergometer. Thirty (15 female) participants completed a baseline condition of seated rest and then moderate- and high-intensity exercise. Moderate- and high-intensity exercise conditions were completed on the 2nd day in a counterbalanced order. During each exercise condition, participants responded to 3 × 3 picture matrices (256 trials in each condition) that contained discrepant fear-relevant and discrepant fear-irrelevant pictures (Öhman, Flykt, & Esteves, 2001). Response accuracy was significantly greater, and reaction time was significantly faster, during moderate- and high-intensity exercise compared with the rest condition (ps < .001). The discrepant fear-relevant matrix type was detected significantly more accurately than a discrepant fear-irrelevant matrix (p < .001). The discrepant fear-relevant matrix was detected significantly faster than all other matrix types (p < .001). These results suggest that exercise at a moderate and high intensity may enhance the efficiency of visual detection of both threatening and nonthreatening targets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Movement Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Morgan R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Shields
authors.forename: Christine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Swartz
authors.forename: J Carson
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011930:Reaction Time; D055815:Young Adult