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Cited by 1,105Physical Activity and HealthCardiovascular and exercise physiologyExercise and Physiological Responses

The effect of exercise-induced arousal on cognitive task performance: a meta-regression analysis

Lambourne, Kate, Tomporowski, Phillip·2010·Brain Research
DOI 10.1016/j.brainres.2010.03.091
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Abstract

The effects of acute exercise on cognitive performance were examined using meta-analytic techniques. The overall mean effect size was dependent on the timing of cognitive assessment. During exercise, cognitive task performance was impaired by a mean effect of -0.14. However, impairments were only observed during the first 20min of exercise. Otherwise, exercise-induced arousal enhanced performance on tasks that involved rapid decisions and automatized behaviors. Following exercise, cognitive task performance improved by a mean effect of 0.20. Arousal continued to facilitate speeded mental processes and also enhanced memory storage and retrieval. Positive effects were observed following exercise regardless of whether the study protocol was designed to measure the effects of steady-state exercise, fatiguing exercise, or the inverted-U hypothesis. Finally, cognitive performance was affected differentially by exercise mode. Cycling was associated with enhanced performance during and after exercise, whereas treadmill running led to impaired performance during exercise and a small improvement in performance following exercise. These results are indicative of the complex relation between exercise and cognition. Cognitive performance may be enhanced or impaired depending on when it is measured, the type of cognitive task selected, and the type of exercise performed.

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  • Studies show a small, transient improvement in cognition after a single acute bout of physical activity, with effect sizes from 0.014 to 0.67 across six systematic reviews and meta-analyses summarizing 12 to 79 studies.

    “Studies demonstrate a small, transient improvement in cognition following the cessation of a single, acute bout of PA, with effect sizes (Cohen’s d, Cohen’s k, and Hedges’ g) ranging from 0.014 to 0.67 across six SRs and meta-analyses that summarized 12-79 studies (27, 65–68).”

    From Physical Activity, Cognition, and Brain Outcomes: A Review of the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines (2019) · cites this paper as [66]

  • Some findings suggest an inverted-U shaped curve, with moderate-intensity physical activity having a larger effect than light- and vigorous-intensity physical activity.

    “Some findings suggest an inverted-U shaped curve, with moderate-intensity PA demonstrating a larger effect than light- and vigorous-intensity PA (66, 68)”

    From Physical Activity, Cognition, and Brain Outcomes: A Review of the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines (2019) · cites this paper as [66]

  • Reported acute effects were most consistent for executive function, but significant benefits were also found for processing speed, attention, and memory.

    “Reported effects were most consistent for domains of executive function (65–68), but significant benefits were also realized for processing speed, attention (although see (27) for a discrepant finding) and memory (65, 66, 68).”

    From Physical Activity, Cognition, and Brain Outcomes: A Review of the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines (2019) · cites this paper as [66]

  • Overall, findings strongly indicate that transient cognitive benefits can follow single acute bouts of physical activity; these effects appear strongest for preadolescent children and older adults and for moderate intensity, with 11 to 20 minutes as the optimal duration.

    “Overall, the findings strongly indicate that transient cognitive benefits may be derived following single acute bouts of PA. Such effects appear strongest for preadolescent children and older adults and for a PA dose of moderate intensity (65–68), with further evidence supporting 11-20 minutes in duration as the optimal range for enhancing cognitive function (65).”

    From Physical Activity, Cognition, and Brain Outcomes: A Review of the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines (2019) · cites this paper as [66]

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Authors
Lambourne, K., & Tomporowski, P.
Affiliations
University of Georgia (US)
Corresponding author
Lambourne, Kate
ORCID
Tomporowski, Phillip
Venue
Brain Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2010-06
Volume
1341
Pages
12-24
ISSN
0006-8993 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.brainres.2010.03.091
OpenAlex
W2037240596
Cited by
1,105
References
99
Citations by year
2026: 49 · 2025: 57 · 2024: 90 · 2023: 98 · 2022: 79 · 2021: 100 · 2020: 90 · 2019: 93 · 2018: 84 · 2017: 69 · 2016: 54 · 2015: 80 · 2014: 68 · 2013: 34 · 2012: 31
FWCI
3.05
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Brain Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
Keywords
acute exercise, cognitive performance, memory storage and retrieval, inverted-U hypothesis, steady-state exercise, fatiguing exercise, exercise mode, cycling, treadmill running, decision-making
MeSH terms
Arousal, Cognition, Cognition Disorders, Exercise Therapy, Humans, Physical Fitness, Regression Analysis, Exercise Tolerance

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