Abstract
We conducted the reading span test (RST) on 10 young student volunteers in order to investigate effects of different loads of exercise on the working memory. Subjects exercised 10 min ergometer cycling with loads in such a way that their heart rate attained to 10, 30, or 60% of predicted maximal heart rate (HRmax). Before and immediately after the exercise they sat on the chair and answered 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-sentenses RST tasks serially. Mean RST result after each exercise was compared with that before exercise with using a dually tailed t test. Although after 10% exercise RST did not change significantly, after 30 as well as after 60% exercise RST were augmented significantly (p=0.007 and 0.0006, respectively). Present results suggest that relatively mild exercise could have activating influences on the cognitive power in young normal human. [Jpn J Physiol 54 Suppl:S194 (2004)]
