Effect of Intermittent Exercise on Multiple-Choice Reaction Times of Soccer Players

The influence of intermittent exercise on a choice-response time task was investigated. Two groups of 8 male soccer players (M age = 20.9, SD = 2.0) participated. They spent 4.4 (SD = 1.3) weekly hours on soccer training and had been playing soccer for 13 (SD = 3.3) years. Multiple-choice reaction speed and response accuracy were measured four times. Between measurements, one group performed 8-min. blocks of intermittent exercise on a bicycle ergometer and one group rested. Analysis showed that reaction speed and response accuracy were not significantly different between the two groups. Furthermore, there were significant faster reaction times and a larger number of correct reactions through Block 2 in both the exercise and control group (p<.05), probably a result of learning processes and familiarization with the task procedures. Further research towards the specific influence of mode of exercise, intensity, work-rest ratio and duration of intermittent exercise, and the sensitivity of reaction time tasks will be necessary to clarify the relationship between intermittent exercise and cognitive performance.

[1]  T. McMorris,et al.  The effect of incremental exercise on cognitive performance. , 2000 .

[2]  J. Brisswalter,et al.  Single and choice reaction time during prolonged exercise in trained subjects: influence of carbohydrate availability , 2001, European Journal of Applied Physiology.

[3]  Jennifer L. Etnier,et al.  The Influence of Physical Fitness and Exercise upon Cognitive Functioning: A Meta-Analysis , 1997 .

[4]  J Bangsbo,et al.  The physiology of soccer--with special reference to intense intermittent exercise. , 2003, Acta physiologica Scandinavica. Supplementum.

[5]  D. Gould,et al.  The arousal–athletic performance relationship: Current status and future directions. , 1992 .

[6]  S. Keele,et al.  The impact of aerobic activity on cognitive function in older adults: A new synthesis based on the concept of executive control , 2001 .

[7]  J. Graydon,et al.  The effect of exercise on the decision-making performance of experienced and inexperienced soccer players. , 1996, Research quarterly for exercise and sport.

[8]  F. Paas,et al.  Exercise-induced arousal and information processing. , 1997 .

[9]  R Montés-Micó,et al.  Eye-hand and eye-foot visual reaction times of young soccer players. , 2000, Optometry.

[10]  T. Reilly,et al.  Physiology Applied to Field Hockey , 1992, Sports medicine.

[11]  Antonios K. Travlos,et al.  Information Processing and Concentration as a Function of Fitness Level and Exercise-Induced Activation to Exhaustion , 1995, Perceptual and motor skills.

[12]  Jeanick Brisswalter,et al.  Effects of Acute Physical Exercise Characteristics on Cognitive Performance , 2002, Sports medicine.

[13]  Marc T. Hamilton,et al.  Effects of carbohydrate feedings on plasma free tryptophan and branched-chain amino acids during prolonged cycling , 2004, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.

[14]  F G Paas,et al.  Human information processing during physical exercise. , 1991, Ergonomics.

[15]  P. Krustrup,et al.  Match performance of high-standard soccer players with special reference to development of fatigue , 2003, Journal of sports sciences.

[16]  P. Tomporowski.  Effects of acute bouts of exercise on cognition. , 2003, Acta psychologica.

[17]  C. Bard,et al.  Effects of Physical or Perceptual Work Loads on a Coincidence/Anticipation Task , 1981, Perceptual and motor skills.

[18]  T. McMorris,et al.  Effect of Exercise on Simple Reaction Times of Recreational Athletes , 1994, Perceptual and motor skills.

[19]  G. McConell,et al.  Muscle metabolism during prolonged exercise in humans: influence of carbohydrate availability. , 1999, Journal of applied physiology.

[20]  J. Chmura,et al.  Choice Reaction Time During Graded Exercise in Relation to Blood Lactate and Plasma Catecholamine Thresholds , 1994, International journal of sports medicine.

[21]  J. Easterbrook.  The effect of emotion on cue utilization and the organization of behavior. , 1959, Psychological review.

[22]  Didier Delignières,et al.  INFLUENCE OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE ON CHOICE REACTION TIME IN SPORTS EXPERTS : THE MEDIATING ROLE OF RESOURCE ALLOCATION , 2003 .

[23]  Kerry L. Coburn,et al.  Effects of aerobic exercise and gender on visual and auditory P300, reaction time, and accuracy , 1999, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.

[24]  J. Brisswalter,et al.  EFFECT OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE DURATION ON DECISIONAL PERFORMANCE , 1997 .

[25]  Christian Raphel,et al.  Influence of Variations in Body Hydration on Cognitive Function: Effect of Hyperhydration, Heat Stre , 2000 .

[26]  H. Krysztofiak,et al.  Psychomotor performance during prolonged exercise above and below the blood lactate threshold , 1997, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.

[27]  Thomas W. Storer,et al.  Exercise Testing and Interpretation: A Practical Approach , 2001 .

[28]  B. Okuda,et al.  Cerebello-thalamo-cerebral projection from the dentate nucleus onto the frontal eye field in the cat. , 1994, Acta physiologica Scandinavica.

[29]  V. Hatzitaki,et al.  Role of Perceptual and Motor Abilities in Instep-Kicking Performance of Young Soccer Players , 2003, Perceptual and motor skills.