The effects of physical exertion on immediate and delayed mental performance of adult females

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of physical exertion on mental performance, as well as to look at this effect after various rest intervals. Specifically, the purpose of this study was to determine: (1) the effect of various levels of physical exertion upon mental performance of adult females; (2) the effect of physical exertion followed by various rest periods upon mental performance of adult females; and (3) if an interaction exists between intensities of exertion and length of rest periods. Seventy-two college female students were randomly assigned to a control group or one of three groups varying in intensity of physical exertion: 110 beats/minute, 145 beats/minute, or 180 beats/minute. Each test session consisted of a pretest, a sex-minute bicycle ergometer work bout, and four 2 1/2 -minute post-tests scheduled 0, 5, 10, and 15 minutes after the exercise. The mental test was the Brown and Poulton Test of Attention which requires each subject to audibly detect a sequence of digits which occurs in the order "odd-even-odd," and to respond by saying "yes" before the next digit is presented. The statistical tool for hypothesis testing was a 4 x 4 analysis of covariance with repeated measures on the interval factor. No significant group was found indicating that mental performance was not significantly different following any of the various exertion intensities. A significant interval effect was found; however, a learning effect was determined to be present across intervals which invalidated this statistically significant effect. No interactive effect was found indicating no mean differential response in groups (exertion intensities) across intervals (rest periods)...