Effect of acute resistance exercise on cognition and creativity in healthy, well-trained university undergraduates

• Main Author: Chow, Zi Siong
• Other Authors: Masato Kawabata
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Psychology::Consciousness and cognition
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/68792
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of acute resistance exercise (RE) on cognition and creativity in healthy, young and well-trained male university students. Previous studies done in similar population showed mixed results. For this study, it is hypothesized that acute RE would improve cognition and creativity. A randomized, within-subjects counter-balanced study design was employed. 10 participants each underwent two experimental conditions: acute RE condition and reading condition. Each treatment (i.e.: RE and reading) lasted 20 minutes. RE protocol consisted of 3 exercises that target all major muscle groups in the full body. 2 sets of 10 repetitions done at a load of 70% of 10 repetition maximum was completed for each exercise. For reading condition, participants read physiological-based fitness articles. Participants must be non-obese and have at least 1 year of regular RE experience with minimum 3 days a week. Tests of cognitive function and creativity were administered at baseline of both conditions, after RE, and after reading. Selfreport scales were implemented to determine degree of exercise intensity, perceived mood, and arousal. Findings suggest that reaction time decreased significantly from baseline to post treatment in the RE condition (p < 0.025, ES = 0.450). There were no significant difference in short-term verbal memory test scores (p > 0.025, ES > 0.227) and creativity test scores (p > 0.025, ES > 0.490). Arousal showed an increasing trend in RE condition (p = 0.028, ES = 0.799). In conclusion, acute RE improves reaction time and increases arousal steadily.