Effects of Acute Stretching on Cognitive Function and Mood States of Physically Inactive Young Adults

Exercise intensity from stretching is very low, making it well suited to varied populations, including physically inactive people. We tested the hypothesis that acute stretching would improve cognitive function and improved mood states in physically inactive people. We asked 19 physically inactive young participants to perform the Stroop task and complete the short form of Profile of Moods Scale before and after 10 minutes of whole body stretching using yoga techniques and poses (stretching condition) versus a resting period. In the stretching condition, we observed decreases in Tension–Anxiety, Depression–Dejection, Anger–Hostility, Fatigue, and Confusion scores on the Profile of Moods Scale (all p values < .01) and an increase in the Vigor score ( p = .01). We also observed a decrease in Stroop interference performance ( p < .001). Furthermore, we found a significant negative correlation between ΔVigor score and ΔStroop interference ( r = −.36, p = .03), indicating that a greater increase in the Vigor score was associated with better cognitive performance. Thus, acute stretching improved mood states and cognitive performance in physically inactive people. We suggest that the improved cognitive performance may be, at least partly, associated with the improved mood states.

Download Full-text

A STUDY OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A MUTUAL EXCHANGE SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENT DISORDERS

Psychological Applications and Trends 2021 ◽

10.36315/2021inpact088 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yutaro Hirata ◽

◽

Yutaka Haramaki ◽

Yasuyo Takano ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Developmental Disorders ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Mood States ◽

Mutual Exchange ◽

Session Impact ◽

Impact Scale ◽

D 63 ◽

Before And After ◽

Anxiety Depression ◽

The Relationship

"There is an urgent need to support families of children with developmental disorders, especially when it is necessary for such families to help each other. However, practice and research related to support systems for families have begun only recently in Japan. Considering these issues, the authors developed a program to support mutual exchanges among parents of children with developmental disorders. This study aimed to verify the program’s effectiveness and to examine the relationship between participants’ program experience and its effectiveness. Participants included 21 male and female parents of children with developmental disorders. The parents were in their 30s to 50s (4 in their 30s, 14 in their 40s, and 3 in their 50s) (1 male, 20 females). Effectiveness indicators included the Profile of Mood States 2nd Edition-Adult Short (POMS2-A Short) (before and after implementation), Session Impact Scale (SIS), and Mutual Exchange Support Experience Rating Scale. t-tests were conducted on the pre- and post-program results of the POMS2-A short. Results showed that scores on Anger-Hostility (t=4.77, df=20, p<.01, d=1.04), Confusion-Bewilderment (t=4.31, df=20, p<.01, d=.94), Depression-Dejection (t=2.88, df=20, p<.01, d=.63), Fatigue-Inertia (t=3.63, df=20, p<.01, d=.79), and Tension-Anxiety (t=3.61, df=20, p<.01, d=.79) in the POMS2-A Short decreased significantly after the implementation of the program. These results evidence the effectiveness of the program in improving several mood states, especially anger-hostility, tension-anxiety, depression-depression, and fatigue."

Download Full-text

Short-Term Effects of Forest Therapy on Mood States: A Pilot Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18189509 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (18) ◽

pp. 9509

Author(s):

Francesco Meneguzzo ◽

Lorenzo Albanese ◽

Michele Antonelli ◽

Rita Baraldi ◽

Francesco Riccardo Becheri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Variables ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Personal Characteristics ◽

Mood States ◽

Self Assessment ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Before And After ◽

Remote Sites ◽

Anxiety Depression ◽

Therapy Sessions

Immersion in forest environments was shown to produce beneficial effects to human health, in particular psychophysical relaxation, leading to its growing recognition as a form of integrative medicine. However, limited evidence exists about the statistical significance of the effects and their association with external and environmental variables and personal characteristics. This experimental study aimed to substantiate the very concept of forest therapy by means of the analysis of the significance of its effects on the mood states of anxiety, depression, anger and confusion. Seven forest therapy sessions were performed in remote areas and a control one in an urban park, with participants allowed to attend only one session, resulting in 162 psychological self-assessment questionnaires administered before and after each session. Meteorological comfort, the concentration of volatile organic compounds in the forest atmosphere and environmental coherence were identified as likely important external and environmental variables. Under certain conditions, forest therapy sessions performed in remote sites were shown to outperform the control session, at least for anxiety, anger and confusion. A quantitative analysis of the association of the outcomes with personal sociodemographic characteristics revealed that only sporting habits and age were significantly associated with the outcomes for certain psychological domains.

Download Full-text

Development and Preliminary Validation of the Injury-Psychological Readiness to Return to Sport (I-PRRS) Scale

Journal of Athletic Training ◽

10.4085/1062-6050-44.2.185 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 44 (2) ◽

pp. 185-189 ◽

Cited By ~ 55

Author(s):

Douglas D. Glazer

Keyword(s):

Athletic Training ◽

Sport Participation ◽

Short Form ◽

Reliability And Validity ◽

Return To Sport ◽

Preliminary Evidence ◽

Mood States ◽

Before And After ◽

Item Scale ◽

Injured Athletes

Abstract Context: Only a few scales measure confidence within sport; however, these scales are insufficient to measure confidence after athletic injuries. Therefore, better measures are needed to determine the psychological readiness of injured athletes to return to sport participation. Objective: To develop a scale that measures the psychological readiness of injured athletes to return to sport participation and to provide preliminary evidence of reliability and validity for the scale. Design: The Delphi method was used to develop the Injury-Psychological Readiness to Return to Sport scale (I-PRRS). Two 1-way analyses of variance with repeated measures and 6 Pearson product moment correlations were computed to help validate the scale. Setting: Athletic training clinics at 3 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) schools. Patients or Other Participants: Four certified athletic trainers (ATs) and professors of Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education-accredited athletic training programs and 3 NCAA Division III coaches made up a panel of experts that participated in the Delphi portion of the study to develop the I-PRRS. In the second part of the study, 22 injured athletes, who missed a minimum of 1 week of practice, from 3 NCAA schools in Divisions II and III were surveyed along with their respective ATs. The injured athletes and ATs participated in the validation of the I-PRRS. Main Outcome Measure(s): The injured athlete completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS) short form and the I-PRRS shortly after injury, before returning to the first practice, before returning to competition, and immediately after competition. The respective AT completed the I-PRRS before and after competition. The I-PRRS is a 6-item scale that measures the psychological readiness of injured athletes to return to sport, and the POMS short form is a 30-item scale that measures mood states. I added the negative moods of the POMS and subtracted the positive moods of the POMS to calculate a Total Mood Disturbance (TMD) score. Results: The I-PRRS scores were negatively correlated with the TMD scores of the POMS short form at all 4 time intervals, showing concurrent validity. The I-PRRS scores were lowest after injury, increased before practice, increased again before competition, and had no change after competition. The I-PRRS as completed by the athlete and respective AT was positively correlated both before and after practice, demonstrating external validity. Conclusions: Preliminary evidence for reliability and validity of the I-PRRS was demonstrated. The I-PRRS can be a beneficial tool for ATs to assess an athlete's psychological readiness to return to sport participation after injury.

Download Full-text

0106 The Effects of Caffeine on Blood Pressure and Cognitive Performance in Hypoxic Conditions on the Slopes of Mt. Everest

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsaa056.104 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. A42-A42

Author(s):

K Sparks ◽

R R Wehling ◽

S Acharya ◽

T Musliu ◽

S Baniya ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Placebo Group ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Mixed Model ◽

Acute Mountain Sickness ◽

Study Drug ◽

Major Effect ◽

Hypoxic Conditions ◽

Before And After

Abstract Introduction 140 million people live above 2,400m worldwide. High altitude (HA) exposure can lead to sleep disruption, impaired cognitive performance, acute mountain sickness (AMS), elevated blood pressure (BP) and an increase in cardiovascular events in healthy people. Because caffeine can also increase BP, caffeine might need to be avoided at HA. Caffeine is the most widely used drug in the world but has yet to be studied extensively in hypoxic conditions. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to examine the effects of caffeine on cardiovascular variables and cognitive function at HA. Methods We conducted a non-randomized, single-blind, mixed model design at 4,300m on Mt. Everest. Thirty-three trekkers (nine females), aged 29.5±10.4 (mean±SD), ingested the study drug (placebo or 200 mg of caffeine) 1.5 hours after awakening. To control for withdrawal effects of caffeine, participants that self-reported consuming less than 47 mg of caffeine per day received the placebo while those that consumed more than that received caffeine. Cognitive function was tested using the Stroop task before and after the pill administration. BP was measured by a trained clinician using auscultatory method prior to and 30, 60 and 90 min after the pill administration. Results Caffeine improved cognitive performance when compared to the pretreatment measurement but was worse in the caffeine group prior to the pill administration when compared to the pretreatment placebo group. Additionally, caffeine did not have any major effect on BP when compared to pretreatment measures or the placebo group. Conclusion Caffeine does not seem to have an additive effect on increasing BP with HA. Additionally, because cognitive performance was worse in the chronic caffeine users prior to the pill administration, caffeine users might be more dependent on caffeine to perform optimally at HA. Based off of these data, caffeine seems to be a safe and beneficial drug at HA. Support NIH BUILD EXITO, University of Alaska Faculty Development Grant

Download Full-text

The effects of group keyboard music making on the mood states of college students

Psychology of Music ◽

10.1177/03057356211032716 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 030573562110327

Author(s):

Todd Van Kekerix ◽

William Elder ◽

Claudia Neuhauser ◽

Olivera Nesic-Taylor

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Engineering Students ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Short Form ◽

Mood States ◽

Music Practice ◽

Music Making ◽

Technical Preparation ◽

Keyboard Music ◽

Before And After

Our pilot study explored the effects of a new, five-session group keyboard music-making protocol on the mood states of non-musician college students. Twenty-five math and engineering students participated in a keyboard music-making program without the expectation or need for extensive technical preparation or regular music practice. To assess changes in mood states before and after music-making activities, we administered the Profile of Mood States-Short Form (POMS-SF) questionnaire. Here, we show significant and lasting improvements in participant’s negative and positive mood states, which were more robust than mood improvements reported with other Recreational Music Making (RMM) protocols, suggesting a strong therapeutic potential of our group keyboard music-making program.

Download Full-text

Effect of acute eye fatigue on cognition for young females: a pilot study

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.7978 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. e7978

Author(s):

Ryota Akagi ◽

Miki Tonotsuka ◽

Ryota Horie ◽

Kosuke Hirata ◽

Soichi Ando

Keyword(s):

Reaction Time ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Refractive Error ◽

Recognition Task ◽

Modern World ◽

Young Females ◽

Eye Fatigue ◽

Before And After ◽

Memory Recognition

The number of people suffering from eye fatigue induced by visual display terminal (VDT) viewing is expected to increase in the modern world. Eye dysfunction is suggested to induce a decrease in cognitive function, at least in the long term. Furthermore, considering other previous findings, it may be reasonable to think that acute or relatively short-term eye dysfunction attenuates cognitive function for not only older but also young individuals. Hence, clarification of the effect of eye fatigue induced by VDT viewing on cognitive performance is essential in order to maintain and/or improve our quality of life in the modern world regardless of age. The present study investigated the effect of eye fatigue induced by 1-h VDT viewing on cognitive performance, to test the hypothesis that such eye fatigue impairs cognitive performance in young individuals. A total of 19 healthy female university students voluntarily participated in this study. Before and after the 1-h VDT viewing or resting, the degree of eye fatigue and cognitive performance were evaluated. Refractive error measurement was performed to assess the degree of eye fatigue using a binocular auto refractometer, and a memory recognition task and Go/NoGo task were used to estimate cognitive performance. Response accuracy and reaction time were evaluated in the two tasks. Due to difficulty in interpreting the data of refractive error for one participant from the perspective of eye fatigue, the data for 18 participants were used for further analysis. The refractive error was significantly lower after than before the VDT viewing, but a corresponding change was not found before and after resting. Regarding cognitive performance, only the reaction time in the memory recognition task varied with the VDT viewing or resting. The reaction time was significantly longer after than before resting, without a corresponding difference before and after the VDT viewing. Thus, the 1-h VDT viewing induced eye fatigue, but relatively improved rather than attenuated reaction time in the memory recognition task. These results suggest that the effect of the increase in arousal level induced by the present VDT viewing on memory recognition compensated for the negative effect of 1-h resting of the eyes. We conclude that the acute eye fatigue induced by the 1-h VDT viewing does not have detrimental effects on cognition in young females at least under the present conditions.

Download Full-text

Neurotrophins and cognitive functions in T1D compared with healthy controls: effects of a high-intensity exercise

Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.1139/apnm-2014-0098 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 20-27 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Cajsa Tonoli ◽

Elsa Heyman ◽

Luk Buyse ◽

Bart Roelands ◽

Maria Francesca Piacentini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Function ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

High Intensity ◽

Control Group ◽

Fitness Level ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Before And After ◽

Exercise Induced ◽

Chronic Hyperglycaemia ◽

Serum Bdnf

Exercise is known to have beneficial effects on cognitive function. This effect is greatly favored by an exercise-induced increase in neurotrophic factors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), especially with high-intensity exercises (HIE). As a complication of type 1 diabetes (T1D), a cognitive decline may occur, mostly ascribed to hypoglycaemia and chronic hyperglycaemia. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of acute HIE on cognitive function and neurotrophins in T1D and matched controls. Ten trained T1D (8 males, 2 females) participants and their matched (by age, sex, fitness level) controls were evaluated on 2 occasions after familiarization: a maximal test to exhaustion and an HIE bout (10 intervals of 60 s at 90% of their maximal wattage followed by 60 s at 50 W). Cognitive tests and analyses of serum BDNF, IGF-1, and free insulin were performed before and after HIE and following 30 min of recovery. At baseline, cognitive performance was better in the controls compared with the T1D participants (p < 0.05). After exercise, no significant differences in cognitive performance were detected. BDNF levels were significantly higher and IGF-1 levels were significantly lower in T1D compared with the control group (p < 0.05) at all time points. Exercise increased BDNF and IGF-1 levels in a comparable percentage in both groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, although resting levels of serum BDNF and IGF-1 were altered by T1D, comparable increasing effects on BDNF and IGF-1 in T1D and healthy participants were found. Therefore, regularly repeating acute HIE could be a promising strategy for brain health in T1D.

Download Full-text

Effects of a Group Program to Increase Cognitive Performance Through Cognitively Stimulating Leisure Activities in Healthy Older Subjects

GeroPsych ◽

10.1024/1662-9647/a000035 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 83-92 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Valentina A. Tesky ◽

Christian Thiel ◽

Winfried Banzer ◽

Johannes Pantel

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Function ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Older Persons ◽

Intervention Program ◽

Leisure Activities ◽

The Elderly ◽

Cognitive Stimulation ◽

Group Program ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Older Subjects

To investigate the effects of leisure activities on cognitive performance of healthy older subjects, an innovative intervention program was developed. Frequent participation in cognitively stimulating activities (i.e., reading, playing chess, or playing music) is associated with reduced risk of dementia. AKTIVA (active cognitive stimulation – prevention in the elderly) is an intervention program designed to enhance cognitive stimulation in everyday life by increasing cognitive stimulating leisure activities. The present study determines the effects of AKTIVA on cognitive function, mood and attitude toward aging in a sample of older participants from the general population. Several measurement instruments were used including the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-Cog), the Trail-Making Test (TMT), and the Memory Complaint Questionnaire (MAC-Q). Initially, the sample consisted of 307 older persons (170 female, 72 ± 7 years). The intervention was evaluated with a randomized, controlled pre-post follow-up design. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: AKTIVA intervention (n = 126), AKTIVA intervention plus nutrition and exercise counseling (n = 84), no-intervention control group (n = 97). The AKTIVA intervention consisted of 8 weekly sessions and two booster sessions after a break of 4 months. Participation in the group program resulted in positive effects on cognitive function and attitude toward aging for subassembly groups. Older persons (≥ 75 years) showed enhanced speed of information processing (by TMT Version A) (F = 4.17*, p < .05); younger participants (< 75 years) showed an improvement in subjective memory decline (by MAC-Q) (F = 2.55*, p < .05). Additionally, AKTIVA enhanced the frequency of activities for leisure activities for subassembly groups. The results of this study suggest that the AKTIVA program can be used to increase cognitively stimulating leisure activities in the elderly. Further research is necessary to identify the long-term effects of this intervention particularly with respect to the prevention of dementia.

Download Full-text