This study aimed at evaluating the effect of habitual exercise and the level of daily physical activity on executive
function (i.e. inhibitory control) and mental health status in youth adults. Twenty-four undergraduate- and graduateuniversity
students participated in this study. All of the subjects underwent evaluations of their mental health (The
General Health Questionnaire 28; GHQ28), inhibitory control (Stroop Color and Word Test), past- and current- exercise
habits, and daily physical activity levels (International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Version). Current
habitual exercise and the level of low intensity physical activity were inversely correlated with score for GHQ28.
Past habitual exercise was inversely correlated with reaction time for incongruent trial of the Stroop Color and Word
Test. The level of vigorous physical activity was inversely correlated to the accuracy for incongruent trial. This study
demonstrates that the level of low intensity daily physical activity may improve inhibitory control and maintain the
optimal status of mental health, while the level of vigorous intensity physical activity might lead to an impairment of
inhibitory control in youth adults.
This study enrolled 26 healthy young subjects, 11 healthy elderly subjects, and 13 elderly stroke patients. We
performed multiple regression analysis on the mean of the solid angle using the difference between the displacement
data for each pair of body parts as independent variables to predict the standard deviation of the speed of the center
of pressure. The results revealed that adjusting the internal trunk affected the standard deviation of the speed of the
center of pressure during quiet standing.
This study compared surface electromyogram (sEMG) changes associated with the motor learning process (MLP)
in young adults and elderly subjects. Participants performed 50 repetitions of arc drawing by connecting three points
on a computer tablet using elbow flexion-extension. sEMG changes of the biceps, anterior-deltoid, and mid-deltoid
were recorded. Drawing errors (differences between a perfect and drawn arc) were analyzed for each repetition.
Drawing error was not significantly different between groups. A significant reduction in mean sEMG was observed
in the young group alone. Furthermore, the elderly group had a higher percentage of low amplitude potentials in the
sEMG than the young group. These results suggest that a reduction in sEMG during the MLP does not commonly
occur in elderly subjects.
In this study, we investigated the effect of a serotonin transporter gene polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) on praise
seeking need and rejection avoidance need in young Japanese males (n=111). The results showed that there was no
difference in praise seeking need and rejection avoidance need between serotonin transporter gene polymorphism
types; however, the correlation between praise seeking need and rejection avoidance need was different depending
on the presence of particular serotonin transporter gene polymorphisms. We suggest that serotonin transporter gene
polymorphisms should be regarded as one possible factor that affects the relationship between praise seeking need
and rejection avoidance need.