Interactions between simultaneous aerobic exercise and mental rotation

AbstractWhile the effects of aerobic exercise during a cognitive task on the performance of said cognitive task have been extensively studied, it has not been investigated whether cognitive performance during aerobic exercise influences the physical performance. For this, it is the main goal of the study to investigate the physical and cognitive performance during a simultaneous conduction of aerobic exercise and mental rotation. Forty-one German sport students cycled at 60% intensity while simultaneously performing a mental rotation task. In a within-subject design, both physical and cognitive performances were compared with isolated cycling and mental rotation as control conditions using both objective (heart rate and pedal cadence in the cycling task, reaction time and accuracy in the mental rotation task) and subjective (RPE) cognitive and physical measures. The results analyzed with hierarchical linear modeling revealed no effect of either simultaneous cognitive tasks on objective (heart rate) or subjective (RPE) physical effort, nor of simultaneous exercise on reaction time or accuracy in cognitive performance. However, we have found lower cadence during cognitive tasks, which was also stable in time compared to an increase in cadence during exercise control. Furthermore, our results demonstrated increased cognitive effort during exercise. Our findings suggest that increased effort, both physiological and cognitive, is required during combined physical and cognitive work in support of neurological resource conflicts caused by the differing demands of exercise and executive function.

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Exercise and Supplementation of Black Mulberry Fruit Extract, Sunflower Seed and Pumpkin Seed Enhance Cognitive Performance among Sedentary University Students

Current Nutrition & Food Science ◽

10.2174/1573401316999200630121220 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 105-110

Author(s):

Nor A.A.M. Shalan ◽

Norhazira A. Rahim ◽

Nur I. Mohamad

Keyword(s):

Reaction Time ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Group Treatment ◽

Sunflower Seed ◽

Sedentary Lifestyle ◽

Flanker Task ◽

Cognitive Task ◽

Cognitive Tasks ◽

Fruit Extract ◽

Pumpkin Seed

Background: sedentary lifestyle has been found to influence cognitive impairment, whereas physical activity and diet have been found to reduce the negative impacts of a sedentary lifestyle. Objectives: This study aims to examine the synergistic effects of the black mulberry, sunflower seed, and pumpkin seed supplements, including exercise on cognitive performance among sedentary university students. Subjects and Methods: Participants (n=36) were randomly assigned to receive black mulberry, sunflower seed, and pumpkin seed with and without exercise for 60 days. Then, they were required to complete cognitive task assessment for domain attention (visual reaction time and auditory reaction time), perception (fast counting and basic music) and executive (Eriksen flanker task and Stroop test) on day 0 (baseline), 30, and 60 of the experiment. Following that, blood samples were collected and analyzed for malondialdehyde serum concentration as an oxidative stress marker. Results: All participants showed significant faster reaction time in cognitive tasks for domain attention and basic music test for domain perception on day 30 and 60 compared to day 0. However, no significant changes were observed within group, on cognitive task for domain executive. In comparison between the groups, participants in group treatment showed significant faster reaction time for cognitive tasks for domain attention and for Erikson flanker task for domain executive as compared to group exercise alone, and group treatment with exercise. For domain perception (basic music test), participants in group treatment with exercise achieved faster reaction time compared to group treatment and exercise alone. Despite the reduction of malondialdehyde concentration in all groups, no significant difference was found between them. Conclusion: It was indicated from the findings that the consumption of black mulberry fruit extract, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds with and without exercise independently enhanced attention, perception, and executive function among sedentary young adults.

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The Impact of Cognitive Load on Volitional Running

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/1541931213601276 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 60 (1) ◽

pp. 1179-1183 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Megan J. Blakely ◽

Kyle Wilson ◽

Paul N. Russell ◽

William S. Helton

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Cognitive Load ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Cognitive Task ◽

High Load ◽

Interactive Effects ◽

Cognitive Tasks ◽

Running Speed ◽

Original Experiment ◽

The Impact

The effects of physical activity on cognition and the effects of cognitive load on physical activity are complex. Both the nature of the physical activity and cognitive task may influence the interactive effects of performing a physical task while also performing a cognitive task. In a previous study examining the impact of increasing cognitive load on outdoor running speed and the impact of outdoor running on cognitive performance, Blakely et al. (2015) found running speed decreased as cognitive load increased. They also found that the impact of running itself on cognitive performance occurred when the cognitive task was itself demanding (high cognitive load). In the current study we expanded on this previous research by improving the experimental task to rule out peripheral sensory, not central or executive, interference and by incorporating heart rate measures and VO2 max estimates. Twelve runners completed five conditions, two seated cognitive tasks (one low load and one high load), two dual running cognitive tasks and one run only. Results were similar to the original experiment, as the cognitive task became more difficult, voluntary running speed decreased. Also the effects of running on cognitive performance (counting) were found only when the cognitive task was high load.

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2BALANCE: Test-retest reliability of a cognitive-motor dual-task protocol

Journal of Vestibular Research ◽

10.3233/ves-210069 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-13

Author(s):

Maya Danneels ◽

Ruth Van Hecke ◽

Laura Leyssens ◽

Dirk Cambier ◽

Raymond van de Berg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Rotation ◽

Dual Task ◽

Motor Task ◽

Mental Rotation Task ◽

Cognitive Tasks ◽

Task Condition ◽

Dual Task Condition ◽

Single Task ◽

Retest Reliability ◽

Test Retest Reliability

PURPOSE: Aside from typical symptoms such as dizziness and vertigo, persons with vestibular disorders often have cognitive and motor problems. These symptoms have been assessed in single-task condition. However, dual-tasks assessing cognitive-motor interference might be an added value as they reflect daily life situations better. Therefore, the 2BALANCE protocol was developed. In the current study, the test-retest reliability of this protocol was assessed. METHODS: The 2BALANCE protocol was performed twice in 20 healthy young adults with an in-between test interval of two weeks. Two motor tasks and five different cognitive tasks were performed in single and dual-task condition. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), the standard error of measurement, and the minimal detectable difference were calculated. RESULTS: All cognitive tasks, with the exception of the mental rotation task, had favorable reliability results (0.26≤ICC≤0.91). The dynamic motor task indicated overall substantial reliability values in all conditions (0.67≤ICC≤0.98). Similar results were found for the static motor task during dual-tasking (0.50≤ICC≤0.92), but were slightly lower in single-task condition (–0.26≤ICC≤0.75). CONCLUSIONS: The 2BALANCE protocol was overall consistent across trials. However, the mental rotation task showed lowest reliability values.

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Multiscale Entropy of Cardiac and Postural Control Reflects a Flexible Adaptation to a Cognitive Task

Entropy ◽

10.3390/e21101024 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 21 (10) ◽

pp. 1024 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Estelle Blons ◽

Laurent Arsac ◽

Pierre Gilfriche ◽

Veronique Deschodt-Arsac

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Time Series ◽

Postural Sway ◽

Cognitive Task ◽

Temporal Structure ◽

Well Being ◽

Multiscale Entropy ◽

Cognitive Tasks ◽

High Entropy ◽

Stable Conditions

In humans, physiological systems involved in maintaining stable conditions for health and well-being are complex, encompassing multiple interactions within and between system components. This complexity is mirrored in the temporal structure of the variability of output signals. Entropy has been recognized as a good marker of systems complexity, notably when calculated from heart rate and postural dynamics. A degraded entropy is generally associated with frailty, aging, impairments or diseases. In contrast, high entropy has been associated with the elevated capacity to adjust to an ever-changing environment, but the link is unknown between entropy and the capacity to cope with cognitive tasks in a healthy young to middle-aged population. Here, we addressed classic markers (time and frequency domains) and refined composite multiscale entropy (MSE) markers (after pre-processing) of heart rate and postural sway time series in 34 participants during quiet versus cognitive task conditions. Recordings lasted 10 min for heart rate and 51.2 s for upright standing, providing time series lengths of 500–600 and 2048 samples, respectively. The main finding was that entropy increased during cognitive tasks. This highlights the possible links between our entropy measures and the systems complexity that probably facilitates a control remodeling and a flexible adaptability in our healthy participants. We conclude that entropy is a reliable marker of neurophysiological complexity and adaptability in autonomic and somatic systems.

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Alterations in heart-brain interactions under mild stress during a cognitive task are reflected in entropy of heart rate dynamics

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-54547-7 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Estelle Blons ◽

Laurent M. Arsac ◽

Pierre Gilfriche ◽

Heather McLeod ◽

Veronique Lespinet-Najib ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Cognitive Task ◽

Modern Society ◽

Cognitive Tasks ◽

Mild Stress ◽

Central Question ◽

Integration Model ◽

Heart Rate Dynamics ◽

Healthy Participants

AbstractMany people experience mild stress in modern society which raises the need for an improved understanding of psychophysiological responses to stressors. Heart rate variability (HRV) may be associated with a flexible network of intricate neural structures which are dynamically organized to cope with diverse challenges. HRV was obtained in thirty-three healthy participants performing a cognitive task both with and without added stressors. Markers of neural autonomic control and neurovisceral complexity (entropy) were computed from HRV time series. Based on individual anxiety responses to the experimental stressors, two subgroups were identified: anxiety responders and non-responders. While both vagal and entropy markers rose during the cognitive task alone in both subgroups, only entropy decreased when stressors were added and exclusively in anxiety responders. We conclude that entropy may be a promising marker of cognitive tasks and acute mild stress. It brings out a new central question: why is entropy the only marker affected by mild stress? Based on the neurovisceral integration model, we hypothesized that neurophysiological complexity may be altered by mild stress, which is reflected in entropy of the cardiac output signal. The putative role of the amygdala during mild stress, in modulating the complexity of a coordinated neural network linking brain to heart, is discussed.

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The prestimulus default mode network state predicts cognitive task performance levels on a mental rotation task

Brain and Behavior ◽

10.1002/brb3.1186 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (12) ◽

pp. e01186

Author(s):

Tabea Kamp ◽

Bettina Sorger ◽

Caroline Benjamins ◽

Lars Hausfeld ◽

Rainer Goebel

Keyword(s):

Mental Rotation ◽

Task Performance ◽

Default Mode Network ◽

Cognitive Task ◽

Mental Rotation Task ◽

Performance Levels ◽

Default Mode ◽

Network State ◽

Cognitive Task Performance

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Passive heat acclimation does not modulate processing speed and executive functions during cognitive tasks performed at fixed levels of thermal strain

Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.1139/apnm-2021-0243 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hadiatou Barry ◽

Philippe Gendron ◽

Christine Gagnon ◽

Louis Bherer ◽

Daniel Gagnon

Keyword(s):

Reaction Time ◽

Executive Functions ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Core Temperature ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Heat Exposure ◽

Thermal Strain ◽

Heat Acclimation ◽

Cognitive Tasks ◽

Time Control

Purpose: This study evaluated if passive controlled hyperthermia heat acclimation (HA) modulates cognitive performance during passive heat stress. Methods: Eight healthy adults (25 ± 4 years) underwent 7 consecutive days of hot water immersion (core temperature ≥38.6°C) and a 7-day time-control period. On days 1 and 7 of HA, participants performed a digital Stroop test at baseline, when core temperature reached 38.6°C, and after 60 minutes at a core temperature ≥38.6°C to evaluate reaction time during tasks targeting processing speed (reading and counting) and executive functions (inhibition and switching). On days 1 and 7 of the time-control intervention, participants performed the Stroop test with equivalent amounts of time separating each task as for HA. Results: During day 1 of HA, reaction time was quicker during the reading (-44 ms [-71, -17], P<0.01) and counting (-39 ms [-76, -2], P=0.04) tasks when rectal temperature reached 38.6°C, but after a further 60 minutes of heat exposure, reaction time only remained quicker during the reading task (-56 ms [-83, -29], P<0.01). Changes in reaction time during heat exposure were unaffected by subsequent HA (interaction, all P≥0.09). Conclusion: Seven days of HA does not modulate processing speed and executive functions during passive heat exposure. Novelty: - Whether heat acclimation (HA) to improve cognitive performance during heat exposure remains understudied. - We tested the hypothesis that HA modulates reaction time during cognitive tasks performed at matched levels of thermal strain. - Despite classical signs of HA, reaction time during heat exposure was unaffected by HA.

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Effects of a Mindfulness Meditation Course on Learning and Cognitive Performance among University Students in Taiwan

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2015/254358 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Ho-Hoi Ching ◽

Malcolm Koo ◽

Tsung-Huang Tsai ◽

Chiu-Yuan Chen

Keyword(s):

Reaction Time ◽

University Students ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Mindfulness Meditation ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Vigilance Task ◽

Analysis Of Covariance ◽

Cognitive Tasks ◽

Attention And Memory ◽

Learning Effectiveness

Mindfulness training has recently gained much research interest because of its putative benefits for both mental and physical health. However, little is available in its effects on Asian students. Therefore, a quasi-experimental pre/posttest design was used to assess the effects of a one-semester mindfulness meditation course in 152 first-year Taiwanese university students and compared with 130 controls. The Chinese version of the College Learning Effectiveness Inventory (CLEI) and a computer software program focused on specific cognitive tasks were used for the evaluation. Results from the analysis of covariance revealed that while the score of the full CLEI scale was significantly higher in the intervention group compared with the control (P=0.022), none of the comparisons between the nine CLEI subscales were significantly different between the two groups. For the computer cognitive tasks, the intervention group exhibited significantly better performance in the accuracy of the digital vigilance task (P=0.048), choice reaction time (P=0.004), spatial working memory (P=0.042), and digital vigilance task reaction time (P=0.004). This study showed that a one-semester mindfulness meditation course was able to improve learning effectiveness and both attention and memory aspects of cognitive performance among Taiwanese university students.Corrigendum to “Effects of a Mindfulness Meditation Course on Learning and Cognitive Performance among University Students in Taiwan”

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Relations among Comfort of Fabrics, Ratings of Comfort, and Visual Vigilance

Perceptual and Motor Skills ◽

10.2466/pms.2003.97.1.57 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 97 (1) ◽

pp. 57-67 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Rick Bell ◽

Armand V. Cardello ◽

Howard G. Schutz

Keyword(s):

Reaction Time ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Significant Relationship ◽

Cognitive Task ◽

Vigilance Task ◽

The Other ◽

Clothing Comfort ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Relationship

Little is known about the relationship between perceptions of comfort and cognitive performance. In the present study, 40 subjects (20 men and 20 women) participated in a computerized cognitive task of visual vigilance. The computer task was completed under three conditions of clothing and tactile comfort: one condition was that of extreme discomfort, effected by the wearing of wool clothing material on the arms and neck in addition to each subject's normal clothing, including a short sleeve shirt; a second condition was that of minimal discomfort, effected by the wearing of cotton clothing material on the arms and neck, in addition to each subject's normal clothing, including a short sleeve shirt; and a third condition was a control, wherein no experimental material was added to each subject's normal clothing, including a short sleeve shirt. Comfort was assessed prior to, during, and after testing. Reaction time and accuracy of 400 trials of a visual vigilance task were assessed under each of these three conditions. Analysis indicated a significant difference in perceived comfort between the wool and each of the other conditions. In addition, both reaction time and accuracy declined in the wool condition. This study is among the first to identify a direct significant relationship between perceptions of clothing comfort and cognitive performance.

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