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The Effect of Aerobic Exercises on Working Memory and Information-Processing Speed
Oral Presentation
Paper ID : 1141-11THCONF
Authors
Assistant Professor of Motor Behavior. Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: One of the main functions of the brain is cognition and information processing speed that goes back to the neurological function of the brain.
Methodology: The aim of present study is to investigate the effect of aerobic exercises on working memory and information-processing speed. The samples were 30 students from Azarbaijan Shahid-Madani University aged 21-26 who were selected purposely (15 samples as study and 15 as the control group). Participation was voluntarily, and individuals didn't have a previous physical activity or cardiovascular and pulmonary problems. The aerobic exercise included a running session with 60% of maximum heart rate. Zahlen- Verbindung Test was used in pre-test and decoding test in post-test and N- back software was also used to assess working memory. N-back software was used to measure working memory. It included remembering two different stimuli (location of Square and its accompanying pronounced letter) (active visual-audio memory). After the test, aerobic exercise according to reported protocol was only administered to study group and finally, information processing speed and working memory post-test was done on all subjects and following reported instructions. We used descriptive statistics for data grouping, Shapiro-Wilk test to study normal data distribution and MANOVA test to study exercise effect.
Results: Obtained data from variance analysis of multi-variant test showed that aerobic exercise has a meaningful effect (P≤0.05) on working memory and information processing speed. In other words, aerobic exercise can facilitate working memory performance and improve information-processing speed.
Discussion: In fact, the present work makes it clearer the interaction and linkage between cognitive and motor and cognitive processes.
Methodology: The aim of present study is to investigate the effect of aerobic exercises on working memory and information-processing speed. The samples were 30 students from Azarbaijan Shahid-Madani University aged 21-26 who were selected purposely (15 samples as study and 15 as the control group). Participation was voluntarily, and individuals didn't have a previous physical activity or cardiovascular and pulmonary problems. The aerobic exercise included a running session with 60% of maximum heart rate. Zahlen- Verbindung Test was used in pre-test and decoding test in post-test and N- back software was also used to assess working memory. N-back software was used to measure working memory. It included remembering two different stimuli (location of Square and its accompanying pronounced letter) (active visual-audio memory). After the test, aerobic exercise according to reported protocol was only administered to study group and finally, information processing speed and working memory post-test was done on all subjects and following reported instructions. We used descriptive statistics for data grouping, Shapiro-Wilk test to study normal data distribution and MANOVA test to study exercise effect.
Results: Obtained data from variance analysis of multi-variant test showed that aerobic exercise has a meaningful effect (P≤0.05) on working memory and information processing speed. In other words, aerobic exercise can facilitate working memory performance and improve information-processing speed.
Discussion: In fact, the present work makes it clearer the interaction and linkage between cognitive and motor and cognitive processes.
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