The Effect of Three Months of Aerobic Training on Stroop Performance in Older Adults
Growing evidence supports the use of physical training interventions to improve both physical and cognitive performances in healthy older adults. Few studies have examined the impact of aerobic exercise on Stroop task performance, a measure of executive functions. In the current 3-month aerobic trai...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2012-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Aging Research |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/269815 |
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| _version_ | 1832550283715018752 |
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| author | David Predovan Sarah A. Fraser Mélanie Renaud Louis Bherer |
| author_facet | David Predovan Sarah A. Fraser Mélanie Renaud Louis Bherer |
| author_sort | David Predovan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Growing evidence supports the use of physical training interventions to improve both physical and cognitive performances in healthy older adults. Few studies have examined the impact of aerobic exercise on Stroop task performance, a measure of executive functions. In the current 3-month aerobic training study, 50 older adults (mean age = 67.96 ± 6.25 years) were randomly assigned to either a three-month physical training group or to a control group (waiting list). Training sessions were 3 times per week for 60 minutes. All participants completed pre- and post-test measures of cognitive performance using the modified Stroop task and physical performance (Rockport one-mile test). Compared to controls, the training group showed significant improvements in physical capacity (P<0.001) and enhanced Stroop performance, but only in the inhibition/switching condition (P<0.03). Furthermore, the increase in aerobic capacity induced by the training regimen correlated negatively with reaction time in the inhibition/switching condition of the Stroop task at posttest (r=−0.538; P=0.007). Importantly, the reported gains in cognitive performance were observed after only three months of physical training. Taken together, the results suggest that even short-term physical interventions can enhance older adults’ executive functions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-79a316f714fd498092df3fd6b3b23bd1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2090-2204 2090-2212 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Aging Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-79a316f714fd498092df3fd6b3b23bd12025-02-03T06:07:15ZengWileyJournal of Aging Research2090-22042090-22122012-01-01201210.1155/2012/269815269815The Effect of Three Months of Aerobic Training on Stroop Performance in Older AdultsDavid Predovan0Sarah A. Fraser1Mélanie Renaud2Louis Bherer3Centre de Recherche, Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3W 1W5, CanadaCentre de Recherche, Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3W 1W5, CanadaCentre de Recherche, Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3W 1W5, CanadaCentre de Recherche, Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3W 1W5, CanadaGrowing evidence supports the use of physical training interventions to improve both physical and cognitive performances in healthy older adults. Few studies have examined the impact of aerobic exercise on Stroop task performance, a measure of executive functions. In the current 3-month aerobic training study, 50 older adults (mean age = 67.96 ± 6.25 years) were randomly assigned to either a three-month physical training group or to a control group (waiting list). Training sessions were 3 times per week for 60 minutes. All participants completed pre- and post-test measures of cognitive performance using the modified Stroop task and physical performance (Rockport one-mile test). Compared to controls, the training group showed significant improvements in physical capacity (P<0.001) and enhanced Stroop performance, but only in the inhibition/switching condition (P<0.03). Furthermore, the increase in aerobic capacity induced by the training regimen correlated negatively with reaction time in the inhibition/switching condition of the Stroop task at posttest (r=−0.538; P=0.007). Importantly, the reported gains in cognitive performance were observed after only three months of physical training. Taken together, the results suggest that even short-term physical interventions can enhance older adults’ executive functions.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/269815 |
| spellingShingle | David Predovan Sarah A. Fraser Mélanie Renaud Louis Bherer The Effect of Three Months of Aerobic Training on Stroop Performance in Older Adults Journal of Aging Research |
| title | The Effect of Three Months of Aerobic Training on Stroop
Performance in Older Adults |
| title_full | The Effect of Three Months of Aerobic Training on Stroop
Performance in Older Adults |
| title_fullStr | The Effect of Three Months of Aerobic Training on Stroop
Performance in Older Adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effect of Three Months of Aerobic Training on Stroop
Performance in Older Adults |
| title_short | The Effect of Three Months of Aerobic Training on Stroop
Performance in Older Adults |
| title_sort | effect of three months of aerobic training on stroop performance in older adults |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/269815 |
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