Abstract
Purpose: In contrast to other aspects of executive functions, acute exercise-induced alterations in planning are poorly investigated. While only few studies report improved planning performances after exercise, even less is known about their time course after exhaustive exercise.Methods: One hundred and nineteen healthy adults performed the Tower of London (ToL) task at baseline, followed by a graded exercise test (GXT). Participants were subsequently randomized into one of four groups (immediately, 30, 60, and 90 min after the GXT) to repeat the ToL. Main outcomes of the ToL were planning (number of tasks completed in the minimum number of moves), solutions (correct responses independent of the given number of moves) as well as thinking times (time between presentation of each problem and first action) for tasks with varying difficulty (four-, five,- and six-move problems). Blood lactate levels were analyzed as a potential mediator.Results: No effect of exercise on planning could be detected. In contrast to complex problem conditions, median thinking times deteriorated significantly in the immediately after GXT tested group in less challenging problem conditions (four-move problems: p = 0.001, F = 5.933, df = 3; five-move problems: p = 0.005, F = 4.548, df = 3). Decreased lactate elimination rates were associated with impaired median thinking times across all groups ΔMTT4-6 (p = 0.001, r = −0.309), ΔMTT4 (p < 0.001, r = −0.367), and ΔMTT5 (p = 0.001, r = −0.290).Conclusion: These results suggest that planning does not improve within 90 min after exhaustive exercise. In line with previous research, revealing a negative impact of exhaustive exercise on memory and attention, our study extends this knowledge of exercise-induced alterations in cognitive functioning as thinking times as subcomponents of planning are negatively affected immediately after exercise. This is further associated with peripheral lactate levels.
Highlights
A vast body of literature reports positive effects on cognitive functions of both long-term exercise interventions and single bouts of exercise
In contrast to many studies investigating the impact of acute exercise on task flexibility and response inhibition (Barella et al, 2010; Murray and Russoniello, 2012; Hatta et al, 2013; Alves et al, 2014), very few studies focused on planning as a subcomponent of executive functions (Chang et al, 2011a,b; Chang Y. et al, 2012; Hung et al, 2013)
The results reveal that median thinking times are significantly shorter immediately and 30 min after completion of the physical intervention
Summary
A vast body of literature reports positive effects on cognitive functions of both long-term exercise interventions and single bouts of exercise It has become common practice to define executive functioning by enumerating subcomponents such as task flexibility, response inhibition, verbal fluency as well as planning (Burgess, 1997). In contrast to many studies investigating the impact of acute exercise on task flexibility and response inhibition (Barella et al, 2010; Murray and Russoniello, 2012; Hatta et al, 2013; Alves et al, 2014), very few studies focused on planning as a subcomponent of executive functions (Chang et al, 2011a,b; Chang Y. et al, 2012; Hung et al, 2013)
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