The Acute Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Cognitive Functions ın Young Adults

Abstract

Objective: The acute effects of aerobic exercise on cognitive function in young adults are well-established, yet the acute effects of exercise on cognitive function remain incompletely understood. We aimed to investigate the acute effects of 1-session aerobic exercise on cognitive functions in healthy young adults. This study involved 52 healthy young adults (24 males and 28 females) studying xxx Faculty xxx between xxx. Material and Method: The exercise routine consisted of a 5-minute warm-up, followed by a 20-minute period of increased intensity, and concluded with a 5-minute cool-down. We employed the Stroop Test to evaluate the participants' attention levels. In addition, the number sequence (SD) subtest of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Generalized Form (WMS-G) was used to assess the participants' memory level pre- and post-exercise. Results: The mean age of the participants was 23.34±1.13 years. The participant showed significant improvement in stroop test times but not for number of correct and errors (Stroop 1, stroop 2, stroop 3, stroop 4, and stroop 5= p< 0.0001, p< 0.008, p< 0.0001, p< 0.0001, and p< 0.001, respectively). The participant showed no significant improvement in WMS-G values (WMS-G normal and WMS-G reverse= p>0.308 and p >0.329). Conclusion: Aerobic exercise has been found to potentially have beneficial effects on cognitive abilities in young adults, even after a single session. Clinicians in the field of cognitive rehabilitation may enhance treatment outcomes by incorporating aerobic activities into rehabilitation programmes. Further studies with large sample groups and different types of aerobic exercises (swimming, running, etc.) are important to more clearly demonstrate the acute effects of aerobic exercises on cognitive functions.