Mathematical performance before, during, and following cycling at workloads of low and moderate intensity

Mental arithmetic performance before, during, and following low (40% maximal heart-rate reserve; approximately 90 watts exercise for 15 min.) and moderate (60% maximal heart-rate reserve; approximately 150 watts exercise for 10 min.) intensity cycling by 20 male students (M age = 28.1 yr.) was studied. Subjects were grouped, by using a median-split on their total mathematical performance scores, into a group of 10 low in arithmetic skill and a group of 10 high in arithmetic skill. The numbers and percentages of right answers to 1-min. mathematical problem-sets of either group were not different in the various conditions, suggesting that 25 min. of progressive cycling exercise did not influence mathematical problem-solving efficacy.