Changes in Cognitive Function, Response Preparation, and Arousal Level Following Moderate Exercise

「Abstract」The aim of this study was to investigate the patterns of changes in cognitive function, response preparation, and arousal level following moderate exercise using the event-related brain potentials (ERPs). In the exercise condition, 14 participants (24.2±1.3 yrs) performed a Go/NoGo reaction time task before cycling (pre-exercise), immediately after (post-exercise 1), and after their esophageal temperature (Tes) and heart rate (HR) had returned to pre-exercise values (post-exercise 2). Exercise was moderate intensity (65% maximal HR) for 30 min. In the control condition, participants performed this task at equal intervals, as in the exercise condition. Go P3 amplitude at post-exercise 1 was significantly larger than that of pre-exercise. NoGo P3 amplitude was increased at post-exercise 1 compared to pre-exercise and post-exercise 2. The pattern of changes in early contingent negative variation (CNV) amplitude was similar to NoGo P3. These results indicate that the facilitation of cognitive function following moderate exercise is caused by the exercise-induced arousal level, and does not last long in the exercise protocol used in this study. In addition, the increases in late CNV amplitude were observed at post-exercise 1 and post-exercise 2 compared to pre-exercise. This finding suggests that response preparation facilitate after moderate exercise, and may represent sensitive to acute exercise.