Effects of strenuous exercise on visual perception are independent of visual resolution

Abstract

Strenuous exercise may have the detrimental effects on visual perception. However, it is unclear whether visual resolution is related to the detrimental effects on visual perception. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the effects of strenuous exercise on visual perception are dependent on visual resolution. Given that visual resolution decreases in the periphery of the visual field, we hypothesized that if visual resolution plays a role in the detrimental effects on visual perception, the detrimental effects may be exaggerated toward the periphery of the visual field. Simple visual reaction time was measured at rest and during cycling at 40% and 75% peak oxygen uptakes (VO(2)). Visual stimuli were randomly presented at 2°, 10°, 30°, and 50° to either the right or left of the midpoint between the eyes with equal probability. RT was fractionated into premotor and motor components (i.e. premotor time and motor time) based on electromyographic recording. The premotor time during exercise at 40% peak VO(2) was not different from that at rest. In contrast, the premotor time during exercise at 75% peak VO(2) was significantly longer than that at rest (p=0.018). The increase in the premotor time was observed irrespective of eccentricity, and the detrimental effects were not exaggerated toward the periphery of the visual field. The motor time was not affected by exercise. The current findings suggest that the detrimental effects of strenuous exercise on visual perception are independent of visual resolution.