Effects of Acute Exercise on Visual Reaction Time

Abstract

We examined the effects of acute exercise on reaction time to visual stimuli presented in the central portion and periphery of the visual field. Twelve participants performed reaction time tasks at rest and during cycling at 65 % peak oxygen uptake in two visual conditions. We used circular black-and-white checkerboard patterns as visual stimuli. The participants were asked to respond as quickly as possible to pattern reversal of the visual stimulus by releasing a response button. Reaction time was fractionated into Premotor time and Motor time. Premotor time in the peripheral condition significantly increased (p < 0.025) during exercise (mean ± SE; 195.9 ± 7.9 ms) from that at rest (183.7 ± 6.8 ms). Premotor time in the central condition did not differ between at rest (185.3 ± 7.6 ms) and during exercise (188.4 ± 6.6 ms). These data suggest that the ability to respond to visual stimuli presented in the periphery of the visual field is vulnerable to moderate to severe exercise, as compared with the ability to respond to visual stimuli presented in the central portion of the visual field. An exercise-induced increase in arousal level and a consequent narrowing of attentional focus would explain the present results.

psychomotor performance - narrowing of attentional focus - cycling

References

• 1 Adam J J, Teeken J C, Ypelaar P JC, Verstappen F TJ, Paas F GW. Exercise-induced arousal and information processing.  Int J Sport Psychol. 1997;  28 217-226
• 2 Ando S, Kimura T, Hamada T, Kokubu M, Moritani T, Oda S. Increase in reaction time for the peripheral visual field during exercise above the ventilatory threshold.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2005;  94 461-467
• 3 Arcelin R, Delignieres D, Brisswalter J. Selective effects of physical exercise on choice reaction processes.  Percept Mot Skills. 1998;  87 175-185
• 4 Borg G. Simple rating for estimation of perceived exertion. Borg G Physical Work and Effort. New York; Pergamon Press 1975: 39-46
• 5 Botwinick J, Thompson L W. Premotor and motor components of reaction time.  J Exp Psychol. 1966;  71 9-15
• 6 Brisswalter J, Collardeau N, Arcelin R. Effects of acute physical exercise characteristics on cognitive performance.  Sports Med. 2002;  32 555-566
• 7 Chmura J, Krysztofiak H, Ziemba A W, Nazar K, Kaciuba-Uścilko H. Psychomotor performance during prolonged exercise above and below the blood lactate threshold.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1998;  77 77-80
• 8 Chmura J, Nazar K, Kaciuba-Uścilko H. Choice reaction time during graded exercise in relation to blood lactate and plasma catecholamine thresholds.  Int J Sports Med. 1994;  15 172-176
• 9 Collardeau M, Brisswalter J, Vercruyssen F, Audiffren M, Goubault C. Single and choice reaction time during prolonged exercise in trained subjects: influence of carbohydrate availability.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2001;  86 150-156
• 10 Côté J, Salmela J, Papathanasopoulu K P. Effects of progressive exercise on attentional focus.  Percept Mot Skills. 1992;  75 351-354
• 11 Davey C P. Physical exertion and mental performance.  Ergonomics. 1973;  16 595-599
• 12 Davranche K, Audiffren M, Denjean A. A distributional analysis of the effect of physical exercise on a choice reaction time task.  J Sports Sci. 2006;  24 323-329
• 13 Davranche K, Burle B, Audiffren M, Hasbroucq T. Information processing during physical exercise: a chronometric and electromyographic study.  Exp Brain Res. 2005;  165 532-540
• 14 Davranche K, Burle B, Audiffren M, Hasbroucq T. Physical exercise facilitates motor processes in simple reaction time performance: an electromyographic analysis.  Neurosci Lett. 2006;  396 54-56
• 15 Duffy E. Activation and Behavior. New York; Wiley 1962
• 16 Easterbrook J A. The effect of emotion on cue utilization and the organization of behavior.  Psychol Rev. 1959;  66 183-201
• 17 Etnier J L, Salazar W, Landers D M, Petruzzello S J, Han M, Nowell P. The influence of physical fitness and exercise upon cognitive functioning: a meta-analysis.  J Sport Exerc Psychol. 1997;  19 249-277
• 18 Fitts P M. The information capacity of the human motor system in controlling the amplitude of movement.  J Exp Psychol. 1954;  47 381-391
• 19 Humphreys M S, Revelle W. Personality, motivation and performance: a theory of the relationship between individual differences and information processing.  Psychol Rev. 1984;  91 153-184
• 20 Kahneman D. Attention and Effort. Englewood Cliffs, NJ; Prentice-Hall 1973: 28-49
• 21 McMorris T, Graydon J. The effect of exercise on decision-making performance of experienced and inexperienced soccer players.  Res Q Exerc Sport. 1996;  67 109-114
• 22 McMorris T, Graydon J. The effect of incremental exercise on cognitive performance.  Int J Sport Psychol. 2000;  31 66-81
• 23 Meeusen R, Watson P, Hasegawa H, Roelands B, Piacentini M F. Central fatigue: the serotonin hypothesis and beyond.  Sports Med. 2006;  36 881-909
• 24 Nybo L, Secher N H. Cerebral perturbations provoked by prolonged exercise.  Prog Neurobiol. 2004;  72 223-261
• 25 Paas F GW, Adam J J. Human information processing during physical exercise.  Ergonomics. 1991;  34 1385-1397
• 26 Pesce C, Capranica L, Tessitore A, Figura F. Effects of a sub-maximal physical load on the orienting and focusing of visual attention.  J Hum Mov Stud. 2002;  42 401-420
• 27 Pesce C, Casella R, Capranica L. Modulation of visuospatial attention at rest and during physical exercise: gender differences.  Int J Sport Psychol. 2004;  35 328-341
• 28 Salmela J H, Ndoye O D. Cognitive distortions during progressive exercise.  Percept Mot Skills. 1986;  63 1067-1072
• 29 Tomporowski P D. Effects of acute bouts of exercise on cognition.  Acta Psychol (Amst). 2003;  112 297-324
• 30 Tomporowski P D, Ellis N R. Effects of exercise on cognitive processes: a review.  Psychol Bull. 1986;  99 338-346
• 31 Winer B J. Statistical Principles in Experimental Design. 2nd edn. New York; McGraw-Hill 1971
• 32 Yagi Y, Coburn K L, Estes K M, Arruda J E. Effects of aerobic exercise and gender on visual and auditory P300, reaction time, and accuracy.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1999;  80 402-408