The purpose of this investigation was to assess the influence of acute bouts of aerobic versus resistance exercise on cognitive function of college-aged participants as measured by the ImPACT Protocol.
Twenty college aged participants (11 females, age= 20.1±0.9; 9 males, age= 20.2± 1.6 yrs) from the Kent State University main campus completed two sessions of being ImPACT tested immediately before, immediately after, and 45 minutes after interventions consisting of either an aerobic exercise session, a resistance exercise session, or seated rest control.
Findings indicated significant change in measures of reaction time, impulse control, and visual motor speed across all three groups of participants. No significant change was seen in measures of visual or verbal memory.
The results cannot be seen as suggesting that exercise has no effect on cognitive function. Rather, they may suggest a learning effect previously unaccounted for in the ImPACT testing protocol.