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Prolonged sitting reduces cerebral oxygenation in physically active young adults
Brett D Baker1, Darla M Castelli2
1Department of Kinesiology, Huston-Tillotson University, Austin, TX, United States.
Frontiers in Cognition
|June 24, 2026
Summary
Prolonged sitting reduced cognitive accuracy in active young adults, decreasing cerebral oxygenation (HbO2). Inactive adults showed no changes in cognitive function or HbO2 after sitting.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Physical activity benefits cognitive function, but sedentary behavior effects are unclear.
- Understanding sedentary behavior's impact on cognition and brain oxygenation is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how prolonged sitting affects working memory, inhibitory control, and cerebral oxygenation (HbO2) in young adults.
- To compare these effects between physically active and inactive individuals.
Main Methods:
- Forty-one young adults (18-30 years) underwent a 2-hour sitting bout.
- Cognitive tasks (Flanker, Simon, Delayed Match to Sample) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) for HbO2 were used.
- Participants were categorized as physically active or inactive based on self-report.
Main Results:
- No significant changes in working memory or inhibitory control reaction time were observed.
- Flanker task accuracy decreased significantly post-sitting for all participants.
- Physically active individuals showed reduced cerebral oxygenation (HbO2) during the Flanker task after sitting, unlike inactive individuals.
Conclusions:
- A single bout of prolonged sitting reduced cerebral oxygenation (HbO2) in physically active young adults.
- Sedentary behavior's impact on cognitive function and brain oxygenation may differ based on physical activity levels.
- Future research should objectively measure physical activity and fitness to understand sedentary behavior effects.
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