Changes in Keyboard Typing Accuracy and Spatial Perception after Cardiovascular Fitness Exercise

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to identify the association between cardiopulmonary exercise and neurological activation by measuring dictation accuracy and the extent of spatial perception.

Methods: First of all, the body composition of subjects was analyzed to verify their physical abnormality. The subjects were given treadmill exercise using modified Bruce protocol. Before and after the treadmill exercise, a spatial perception test and dictation task with auditory and visual stimulation were carried out to identify the changes in neurological activation.

Results: The scores of spatial perception after treadmill exercise were higher than those before treadmill exercise (p < 0.05). In addition, the speed of the post-treadmill dictation task with visual stimulation was significantly increased compared to that of the pre-treadmill dictation task (p < 0.05). However, the accuracy of the post-treadmill dictation task with visual stimulation was significantly decreased compared to that of the pre-treadmill dictation task (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: In this study, it was shown that spatial perception and speed of visual dictation were increased after treadmill exercise. These results suggest that cardiovascular fitness exercise increases spatial perception and typing speed by facilitating neurological activation.

Keywords: Autonomic nervous system; Cardiovascular fitness exercise; Cognitive function; Neurological activation; Treadmill exercise.

Fig. 1

Schematic procedures of this study. To compare the typing accuracy before and after the treadmill training, subjects were given dictation tasks before and after the treadmill exercise. Likewise, to compare the extent of space perception before and after the treadmill training, subjects were given EFT before and after the treadmill exercise. Also, activation of the autonomic nervous system was measured before and after treadmill exercise.

Fig. 2

Experimental instruments. (A) Electrocardiography, (B) Dictation task, (C) Embedded figures test, (D) Instrument for autonomic nervous system measurement, (E) Automated metabolic measurement system, (F) Treadmill exercise.

Fig. 3

Characteristics of physiological outcomes. (A) Relative activation of sympathetic compared with the parasympathetic nervous system. Activation of the sympathetic nervous system was increased after treadmill exercise. Most of the changes implied higher sympathetic modulation after treadmill exercise. (B) Fingertip pulse. To measure the activation of the autonomic nervous system, the fingertip pulse was measured for 5 min before and after treadmill exercise. Upper table, fingertip pulse wave measure; lower table, visualized differential value. Pre: before treadmill exercise, Post: after treadmill exercise. (C) Chaotic attractor image. A chaotic attractor is an image of the estimated shape of the heart, which is drawn based on a fingertip pulse wave. (D) Power spectrum in HRV and its alterations owing to stimulation of autonomic nervous system. The graphs represent the extent the sinoatrial node is stimulated by the autonomic nervous system. After treadmill exercise, parasympathetic nerve activation in the Power spectrum in HRV decreased. 0-0.15 Hz: sympathetic nervous system, 0.15-0.4 Hz: parasympathetic nervous system. (E) The ratio between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The data from Figure 3D and E was shown as line graphs. LF: low frequency, HF: high frequency, Pre: before treadmill exercise, Post: after treadmill exercise, Orange line: heart rate, Blue line: parasympathetic nerve (HF), Red line: the ratio of sympathetic (LF) compared to the parasympathetic nervous system (HF). Pre: before treadmill exercise, Post: after treadmill exercise.

Fig. 4

The accuracy of auditory and visual dictation. (A) Auditory dictation accuracy before and after treadmill exercise. Typing accuracy was reduced after treadmill exercise. However, there was no significant difference between the accuracy of the pre- and post-treadmill exercise conditions for the dictation test in the auditory typing session. (B) Visual dictation accuracy. Typing accuracy was reduced after treadmill exercise. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the accuracy of the pre- and post-treadmill exercise conditions for the dictation test in the visual typing session. (C) Speed before and after treadmill exercise. Typing speed was increased after the treadmill exercise. When comparing values between the speed of the pre- and post-treadmill exercise revealed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in AWPM. (D) EFT score before and after treadmill exercise. EFT score was increased after treadmill exercise. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the EFT score of the pre- and post-treadmill exercise conditions for the spatial perception test. As previously hypothesized, treadmill exercise increased EFT scores, indicating advanced neurological activation. A statistical significance test was done by paired t-test. Data are shown as the mean ± SD (*p < 0.05 Pre vs. Post). Pre: before treadmill exercise, Post: after treadmill exercise.