Being physically active versus watching physical activity – effects on inhibitory control

Publication date: Available online 24 February 2016 Source:Trends in Neuroscience and Education Author(s): Markus Wolfgang Hermann Spitzer, Marco Furtner A comparison between the effects of the same type of physical activity being executed and watched on television on inhibitory control, the ability to focus on the relevant stimuli and disregard distraction, does not exist so far. Trying to close this gap, we tested 24 students on their inhibition control with the Erickson flanker task before and after a basketball session and a watching basketball on TV session, for 30minutes respectively, in a within subjects cross-over design. Reaction times significantly decreased in the incongruent condition after being physically active but not after watching physical activity. Subtracting the post-test mean reaction times from the pre-test mean reaction times, pre-post test differences are significantly higher for the physical activity group for the incongruent condition and indicate enlarged inhibitory control after physical activity. These results show that physical activity, in comparison to watching TV, has a positive effect on inhibitory control.
Source: Trends in Neuroscience and Education - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research