Fractionated Reaction Time in Women as a Function of Age and Physical Activity Level

1996 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priscilla Gilliam MacRae ◽  
Celee Morris ◽  
Cheok Y. Lee ◽  
Karen Crum ◽  
Dale Giessman ◽  
...  

Comparisons between young and older women runners and sedentary controls were examined on simple and choice reaction time tasks involving elbow flexion and extension. Reaction time was fractionated into premotor and contractile components using electromyography. Young runners were significantly faster and the older controls were significantly slower than all other groups on all reaction time tasks. The older runners were not significantly different from the young controls in any of the reaction time tasks, thus indicating that a history of running may eliminate or retard the slowing of reaction time that normally accompanies aging. All four groups had similar contractile times, indicating that the differences in reaction time were attributed to central processing in the premotor component of reaction time.

2001 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra K. Hunter ◽  
Martin W. Thompson ◽  
Roger D. Adams

The purposes of this study were to investigate the rate of change with age of simple lower-limb reaction time (RT) in women and determine the relationship among RT. strength, and physical activity. Independent, community-dwelling women aged 20–89 years (N = 217) were assessed for knee-extension RT, maximal voluntary isometric contractions of the knee extensors (KE), and physical activity level. Trend analysis by ANOVA and regression analysis on RT were performed. Lower-limb RT increased and KE strength and physical activity level decreased linearly across age groups (p < .001). Active women had faster RTs than those of inactive women of the same age (p < .01). From multiple-regression analysis on RT, only 1 predictor variable. KE strength, emerged. Stronger women had faster RTs than those of weaker women (p < .0001), regardless of age and physical activity. Although RT was slower in older women, higher levels of strength and physical activity were associated with faster RTs in this group.


Author(s):  
Roman Goenarjo ◽  
Laurent Bosquet ◽  
Nicolas Berryman ◽  
Valentine Metier ◽  
Anaick Perrochon ◽  
...  

Introduction: Many studies have reported that regular physical activity is positively associated with cognitive performance and more selectively with executive functions. However, some studies reported that the association of physical activity on executive performance in younger adults was not as clearly established when compared to studies with older adults. Among the many physiological mechanisms that may influence cognitive functioning, prefrontal (PFC) oxygenation seems to play a major role. The aim of the current study was to assess whether executive function and prefrontal oxygenation are dependent on physical activity levels (active versus inactive) in healthy young males. Methods: Fifty-six healthy young males (22.1 ± 2.4 years) were classified as active (n = 26) or inactive (n = 30) according to the recommendations made by the World Health Organization (WHO) and using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ). Bilateral PFC oxygenation was assessed using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during a computerized Stroop task (which included naming, inhibition, and switching conditions). Accuracy (% of correct responses) and reaction times (ms) were used as behavioural indicators of cognitive performances. Changes in oxygenated (∆HbO2) and deoxygenated (∆HHb) hemoglobin were measured to capture neural changes. Several two-way repeated measures ANOVAs (Physical activity level x Stroop conditions) were performed to test the null hypothesis of an absence of interaction between physical activity level and executive performance in prefrontal oxygenation. Results: The analysis revealed an interaction between physical activity level and Stroop conditions on reaction time (p = 0.04; ES = 0.7) in which physical activity level had a moderate effect on reaction time in the switching condition (p = 0.02; ES = 0.8) but not in naming and inhibition conditions. At the neural level, a significant interaction between physical activity level and prefrontal oxygenation was found. Physical activity level had a large effect on ΔHbO2 in the switching condition in the right PFC (p = 0.04; ES = 0.8) and left PFC (p = 0.02; ES = 0.96), but not in other conditions. A large physical activity level effect was also found on ΔHHb in the inhibition condition in the right PFC (p < 0.01; ES = 0.9), but not in the left PFC or other conditions. Conclusion: The results of this cross-sectional study indicate that active young males performed better in executive tasks than their inactive counterparts and had a larger change in oxygenation in the PFC during these most complex conditions.


2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 11-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeannette R. Mahoney ◽  
Kristina Dumas ◽  
Roee Holtzer

Studies examining multisensory integration (MSI) in aging consistently demonstrate greater reaction time (RT) facilitation in old compared to young adults, but often fail to determine the utility of MSI. The aim of the current experiment was to further elucidate the utility of MSI in aging by determining its relationship to physical activity level. 147 non-demented older adults (mean age 77 years; 57% female) participated. Participants were instructed to make speeded responses to visual, somatosensory, and visual–somatosensory (VS) stimuli. Depending on the magnitude of the individuals’ RT facilitation, participants were classified into a MSI or NO MSI group. Physical activity was assessed using a validated physical activity scale. As predicted, RTs to VS stimuli were significantly shorter than those elicited to constituent unisensory conditions. Multisensory RT facilitation was a significant predictor of total number of physical activity days per month, with individuals in the NO MSI group reporting greater engagement in physical activities compared to those requiring greater RT facilitation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Vicentini de Oliveira ◽  
Celita Salmaso Trelha ◽  
Lilian Leonel de Lima ◽  
Mateus Dias Antunes ◽  
José Roberto Andrade do Nascimento Júnior ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: This study is relevant insofar since it provides information on the elements that interfere in the level of physical activity of the elderly that attend the Fitness zone. Objective: Identifying the level of physical activity and its associated factors related to the elderly who usually go to third age fitness centers in Maringá/PR. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 970 elderly users of the Fitness zone of the municipality of Maringá, state of Paraná, Brazil. A sociodemographic questionnaire and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used. The data were analyzed by the Pearson’s Chi-squared, the Binary Logistic Regression and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test (p < 0,05). Results: The data indicates that being married (p = 0,047) and having completed higher education (p = 0,001) is significantly associated with higher physical activity level. The lower use of medication (p = 0,008), the excellent health perception (p = 0,037), and no history of near-falls (p = 0,038) were associated with the physical activity practice. The subjects who had no history of near-falls in the last six months and who did not have osteoporosis were 1.671 [95% CI = 1.009-2.613] and 1.891 [95% CI = 1.008-2.915] times more likely to be active/very active when compared to the elderly who had near-falls in the last semester and who had osteoporosis. Conclusion: It was concluded that sociodemographic variables and health conditions are associated to the physical activity level in the elderly. Further, elderly who reported the absence of a history of near falls and osteoporosis have more chance to be physically active.


2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 1234-1245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chia-Huei Lin ◽  
Shang-Lin Chiang ◽  
Patsy Yates ◽  
Meei-Shyuan Lee ◽  
Yi-Jen Hung ◽  
...  

1997 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 195-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marit Sorensen

Adherence to lifestyle changes - beginning to exercise, for example - is assumed to be mediated by self-referent thoughts. This paper describes a pilot study and three studies conducted to develop and validate a questionnaire for adults to determine their self-perceptions related to health-oriented exercise. The pilot study identified items pertinent to the domains considered important in this context, and began the process of selecting items. Study 2 examined the factor structure, reduced the number of items, determined the internal consistency of the factors, and explored the discriminative validity of the questionnaire as to physical activity level and gender. Four factors with a total of 24 items were accepted, measuring mastery of exercise, body perception, social comfort/discomfort in the exercise setting, and perception of fitness. All subscales had acceptable internal consistencies. Preliminary validity was demonstrated by confirming hypothesized differences in scores as to gender, age, and physical activity level. The third study examined and demonstrated convergent validity with similar existing subscales. The fourth study examined an English-language version of the questionnaire, confirming the existence of the factors and providing preliminary psychometric evidence of the viability of the questionnaire.


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