Executive function during acute exercise: The role of exercise intensity

Chun Chih Wang*, Chien Heng Chu, I. Hua Chu, Kuei Hui Chan, Yu Kai Chang

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study was designed to examine the modulation of executive functions during acute exercise and to determine whether exercise intensity moderates this relationship. Eighty college-aged adults were recruited and randomly assigned into one of the four following groups: control, 30%, 50%, and 80% heart rate reserve. The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) was administered during each intervention. The results indicated that the majority of the WCST performances were impaired in the high exercise intensity group relative to those of the other three groups, whereas similar performance rates were maintained in the low- and moderateintensity groups. These findings suggest that transient hypofrontality occurs during high-intensity exercise, but not during low- and moderate-intensity exercises. Future research aimed at employing the dual-mode theory, and applying the reticular-activating hypofrontality model is recommended to further the current knowledge.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)358-367
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
Volume35
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cognition
  • Dose-response relationship
  • Transient hypofrontality
  • Wisconsin card sorting test

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Applied Psychology

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