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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2016 Jun;34(2):154-61.
doi: 10.1016/j.rpped.2015.08.004. Epub 2015 Nov 10.

[Acute effect of vigorous aerobic exercise on the inhibitory control in adolescents]

[Article in Portuguese]
Rodrigo Alberto Vieira Browne  1 , Eduardo Caldas Costa  2 , Marcelo Magalhães Sales  3 , André Igor Fonteles  2 , José Fernando Vila Nova de Moraes  4 , Jônatas de França Barros  2
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

[Acute effect of vigorous aerobic exercise on the inhibitory control in adolescents]

[Article in Portuguese]
Rodrigo Alberto Vieira Browne et al. Rev Paul Pediatr. 2016 Jun.

Abstract

Objective:: To assess the acute effect of vigorous aerobic exercise on the inhibitory control in adolescents.

Methods:: Controlled, randomized study with crossover design. Twenty pubertal individuals underwent two 30-minute sessions: (1) aerobic exercise session performed between 65% and 75% of heart rate reserve, divided into 5 min of warm-up, 20 min at the target intensity and 5 min of cool down; and (2) control session watching a cartoon. Before and after the sessions, the computerized Stroop test-Testinpacs™ was applied to evaluate the inhibitory control. Reaction time (ms) and errors (n) were recorded.

Results:: The control session reaction time showed no significant difference. On the other hand, the reaction time of the exercise session decreased after the intervention (p<0.001). The number of errors made at the exercise session were lower than in the control session (p=0.011). Additionally, there was a positive association between reaction time (Δ) of the exercise session and age (r 2=0.404, p=0.003).

Conclusions:: Vigorous aerobic exercise seems to promote acute improvement in the inhibitory control in adolescents. The effect of exercise on the inhibitory control performance was associated with age, showing that it was reduced at older age ranges.

Keywords: Cognition; Cognição; Educação física e treinamento; Esporte; Executive function; Função executiva; Physical education and training; Puberdade; Puberty; Sports.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Acute effect of vigorous aerobic exercise on the reaction time (RT) in Phases 1 (A), 2 (B) and 3 (C) of the computerized Stroop Test (Testinpacs®). Split-Plot Anova adjusted for chronological age was applied in the intra- and inter-comparisons between conditions (2×2). The delta data (Δ = post-pre) are shown as mean and standard error. *p<0.001; pre × post.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Acute effect of vigorous aerobic exercise on the errors made in Phases 1 (A), 2 (B) and 3 (C) of the computerized Stroop Test (Testinpacs®). Non-parametric Ancova adjusted for chronological age was applied in the comparison between conditions. The delta data (Δ = post-pre) are shown as mean and 95% confidence interval (95%CI). *p<0.011; control × exercise.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Linear regression (r 2) and Pearson's coefficient correlation (r) between the delta (Δ=post-pre) of the incongruent reaction time (RT) of Stroop test Phase 3 of the exercise session with chronological age.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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