Abstract
The purposes of this study were to determine: 1) whether older adults who have been physically active for a number of years are faster in responding when performing a simple and complex cognitive/motor task than those who have not been involved in aerobic activity, and 2) the predicted effect of activity level and other factors on Sternberg RT task performance. Previous research has shown that exercise can affect the central nervous system component for tasks requiring speeded responses. Subjects were active runners and less active; their aerobic capacities were High and Somewhat Low respectively. The task was Sternberg Search RT. Based on the three factor ANOVA, Sternberg RT was significantly faster for the active than for the less active. The active were faster than less active at the combined processes of encoding, recogition, rehearsal, deciding which response to make, initiating commands to effectors, and contracting the appropriate effector. Multiple regression supported these results.
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Toole, T., Park, S., Al-Ameer, H. (1993). Years of Physical Activity Can Affect Simple and Complex Cognitive/Motor Speed in Older Adults. In: Stelmach, G.E., Hömberg, V. (eds) Sensorimotor Impairment in the Elderly. NATO ASI Series, vol 75. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1976-4_26
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1976-4_26
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