title: Short Bouts of Intensive Exercise During the Workday Have a Positive Effect on Neuro-cognitive Performance.
abstract: Beside its positive impact on physical health, exercise is indicated to positively affect cognitive performance based on a relocation of cortical activity. This study examined the influence of different types of breaks on cognitive performance and related cortical activity in office-based employees. Breaks were filled with exercise, resting or a usual break and a control condition where employees continued working without any break. Cognitive performance was assessed using the d2-R test and two commercially available cognitive tasks. Brain cortical activity was recorded using electroencephalography before and after breaks. Individual's mood was analysed using a profile of mood state. Results indicate a positive effect of a 3-min boxing intervention on cognitive performance, mirrored by a decrease in prefrontal cortex activity. Although perceived psychological state was increased after the usual break, this is reflected in neither cortical activity nor cognitive performance. With respect to the fact that also bike activity resulted an increase in prefrontal alpha-2 activity, a positive effect of exercise on neuro-cognitive performance can be stated. Health and economic benefits may result from brief physical activity breaks and help to maintain workplace performance and job satisfaction. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Movement and Neuroscience, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wollseiffen
authors.affiliation: Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, Sankt Augustin, Germany.
authors.forename: Argang
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghadiri
authors.affiliation: Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, Sankt Augustin, Germany.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scholz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Movement and Neuroscience, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Heiko K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Strüder
authors.affiliation: Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, Sankt Augustin, Germany.
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herpers
authors.affiliation: Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, Sankt Augustin, Germany.
authors.forename: Theo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.affiliation: Institute of Movement and Neuroscience, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.|Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4563-9890
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017132:Workplace
keywords: mood; neuro-cognitive performance; physical activity; prefrontal cortex; workday breaks