Influence of whole-body vibration on the cognitive ability of reasoning

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of various vibration parameters on the cognitive process of reasoning in humans. Previous researches have shown that whole-body vibration (WBV) from vehicles can negatively impact cognition, while certain frequencies of WBV may have positive effects. As reasoning is a crucial skill in work activities, understanding the impact of WBV on cognition is important. Forty university students participated in the study and were divided randomly into four groups, each comprising ten volunteers. They underwent six tests, including two control tests without vibration and four tests with different orders of vibration parameters based on their assigned group. The frequencies used were 5 Hz or 30 Hz, and the amplitudes were 0.8 m/s 2 or 1.2 m/s 2 . Cognitive performance was assessed using a score system from a cognitive training app. There was a decline in performance during the initial stages, particularly between the first control test and the first application of vibrational parameters. The volunteers became proficient at using the app, indicating that their performance was influenced more by practice and learning rather than the effects of vibrations alone, as indicated by the statistical analysis. The findings suggest that the effects of vibration on cognition are more noticeable when studying individual parameters separately since studies applying it individually had shown some effect. When multiple parameters are considered, their effects tend to cancel each other out although negative effects were more pronounced during the early stages of exposure. The multivariate longitudinal analysis indicated that the primary effect observed was a "learning effect."