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Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology 7/2019

01-07-2019 | Original Article

Cognitive demand of eccentric versus concentric cycling and its effects on post-exercise attention and vigilance

Authors: Benjamin Kan, Craig Speelman, Kazunori Nosaka

Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology | Issue 7/2019

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Abstract

Purpose

This study tested the hypotheses that eccentric cycling (ECC) would be more cognitively demanding than concentric cycling (CONC), and attention and vigilance would improve more after ECC than CONC.

Methods

Thirty young adults performed CONC and two bouts of ECC (ECC1 and ECC2) for 20 min at a similar workload (227.5 ± 51.5 W) with 1-week apart. Cognitive load during exercise was assessed by the average error from the target torque over 1200 (60 rpm × 20 min) revolutions, choice reaction time (CRT), the NASA-task load index (NASA-TLX), and prefrontal cortex oxygenation and deoxygenation (HHb) by near-infrared spectroscopy. Attention and vigilance were assessed by a sustained attention to response task (SART) before, immediately, and at every 15 min for 60 min after exercise or sitting (control).

Results

Heart rate was lower during ECC1 (115.5 ± 20.3 bpm) and ECC2 (116.7 ± 21.0 bpm) than CONC (156.9 ± 19.4 bpm). The torque error was greater for ECC1 (26.1 ± 9.0%) and ECC2 (19.4 ± 9.0%) than CONC (10.8 ± 3.7%). CRT (CONC: 602.8 ± 69.0, ECC1: 711.1 ± 113.0, ECC2: 693.6 ± 122.6 ms) and mental demand in NASA-TLX (46.8 ± 25.8, 80.0 ± 15.3, 60.3 ± 17.6) were greater for ECC1 and ECC2 than CONC. Decreases in HHb were greater for ECC1 (− 0.41 ± 0.37 µM) and ECC2 (− 0.40 ± 0.40 µM) than CONC (0.10 ± 0.40 µM) and control (− 0.21 ± 0.28 µM). Attention and vigilance decreased 2–8% after 20-min sitting, but improved 2–10% immediately after ECC2, and did not decline from the baseline for 30 min after ECC1 or 60 min after CONC and ECC2.

Conclusion

Cognitive load was greater during ECC than CONC, but post-exercise attention and vigilance changes were not largely different between ECC and CONC.
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Metadata
Title
Cognitive demand of eccentric versus concentric cycling and its effects on post-exercise attention and vigilance
Authors
Benjamin Kan
Craig Speelman
Kazunori Nosaka
Publication date
01-07-2019
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Journal of Applied Physiology / Issue 7/2019
Print ISSN: 1439-6319
Electronic ISSN: 1439-6327
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-019-04149-y

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