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Does acute exercise switch off switch costs? A study with younger and older athletes
Caterina Pesce1, Michel Audiffren
1Department of Human Motion and Sport Science, University of Rome "Foro Italico," Rome, Italy.
Acute exercise boosts cognitive flexibility, improving performance on complex switch tasks. While younger age and cognitively demanding sports reduce switch costs, exercise benefits are independent of these factors.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Exercise Physiology
- Human Aging
Background:
- Switch-task performance assesses cognitive flexibility and executive functions.
- Age and cognitive training (e.g., sports) influence cognitive control.
- The impact of acute exercise on switch costs, particularly in different age groups and cognitive task demands, requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how acute aerobic exercise affects switch-task performance in young and older adults.
- To determine if task complexity and sport-related cognitive expertise moderate the effects of exercise on cognitive flexibility.
- To investigate the interplay between age, cognitive expertise, and acute exercise on executive functions.
Main Methods:
- Participants: 53 young (16-24 years) and 47 older (65-74 years) adults.
- Tasks: Reaction time tasks measuring switch costs (difference between switch and nonswitch trials) at rest and during aerobic exercise.
- Cognitive Demands: Tasks varied in executive control requirements; participants engaged in sports with low or high cognitive demands.
Main Results:
- In low-demand tasks, switch costs were primarily influenced by age.
- In high-demand tasks, switch costs were affected by acute exercise, age, and cognitive expertise from sports.
- Acute exercise enhanced cognitive flexibility and performance on complex switch tasks.
Conclusions:
- Acute exercise improves cognitive flexibility and performance on complex cognitive tasks.
- Younger age and engagement in cognitively demanding sports are linked to better switch-task performance.
- The benefits of acute exercise on switch-task performance are not moderated by age or cognitive expertise.
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