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Effects of Physical Activity Level on Attentional Networks in Young Adults

Author

Listed:
  • Fanying Meng

    (Institute of Physical Education, Huzhou University, Huzhou 313000, China)

  • Chun Xie

    (Department of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China)

  • Fanghui Qiu

    (Department of Physical Education, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China)

  • Jiaxian Geng

    (Institute of Physical Education, Huzhou University, Huzhou 313000, China)

  • Fengrong Li

    (Department of Physical Education and Military, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China)

Abstract

Although physical activity is associated with better attentional functioning in elderly populations or in specific clinical populations, the association between physical activity level and attention has been less studied in young adult populations. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether the positive effects of physical activity on attentional networks extend to young adults. In total, 57 college students were recruited and assigned to one of three groups of physical activity levels (high, moderate, and low) based on their self-reported exercise. Each participant completed the Attention Network Test to evaluate the efficiency of three components of attention: alerting, orienting, and executive control. Compared with the low physical activity group, both the high and moderate physical activity groups exhibited better executive control. In addition, the efficiency of the executive control network was positively correlated with physical activity. By contrast, no statistically significant differences were detected among these three groups for the functioning of the alerting or orienting networks. These findings suggested that physical activity had a positive effect on attention in young adults, with the benefit primarily observed for the executive control component rather than for the alerting and orienting components of attention.

Suggested Citation

  • Fanying Meng & Chun Xie & Fanghui Qiu & Jiaxian Geng & Fengrong Li, 2022. "Effects of Physical Activity Level on Attentional Networks in Young Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-15, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:9:p:5374-:d:804518
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Seyed Hojjat Zamani Sani & Zahra Fathirezaie & Homayoun Sadeghi-Bazargani & Georgian Badicu & Safyeh Ebrahimi & Robert Wilhelm Grosz & Dena Sadeghi Bahmani & Serge Brand, 2020. "Driving Accidents, Driving Violations, Symptoms of Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity (ADHD) and Attentional Network Tasks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-17, July.
    2. Zhen Xu & Qiuxia Xu & Yifan Wang & Jielu Zhang & Jiapei Liu & Fei Xu, 2020. "Association of Sedentary Behavior and Depression among College Students Majoring in Design," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-8, May.
    3. Valentin Magnon & Guillaume T. Vallet & Frédéric Dutheil & Catherine Auxiette, 2021. "Sedentary Lifestyle Matters as Past Sedentariness, Not Current Sedentariness, Predicts Cognitive Inhibition Performance among College Students: An Exploratory Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-15, July.
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