The Effects of Exercise Induced Increases in Heart Rate and Decreases in Blood Oxygen Saturation on Reaction-Time in Young Adults
Date
2014Author
Abicht, Carter
Blake, Mariah
Harmann, Connor
Melnick, Bradley
Potter, Melissa
Publisher
Journal of Advanced Student Sciences (JASS)
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Exercise has been proven to be beneficial to not only physical health, but also cognitive
function. Few studies have looked at the effects of increased heart rate on cognitive function in
young adults. In this experiment, reaction time tests were used as a measure of cognitive
function, which were administered at rest, after maintaining 60% of maximum heart rate for 45
seconds, and after maintaining 80% of maximum heart rate for 45 seconds on 20 participants
(mean = 21.45 years). The relationship between reaction time and blood oxygen saturation
(%SpO2) were also analyzed. Results indicated that overall, reaction time improved (decreased)
after the heart rate was increased to 60% of maximum heart rate but did not show significant
improvements from 60% to 80% of maximum heart rate. There was no significant relationship
between %SpO2 and reaction time. Findings suggest that as heart rate increases, %SpO2 slowly
decreases. A positive relationship between increased heart rate and reaction time is suggested.
These results could potentially have implications for advising young adults to engage in warm up
exercises before sporting events for an increase in reaction time.
Subject
blood oxygen saturation
exercise
heart rate
resting
reaction time
young adults
Permanent Link
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/80050Type
Article
Description
An article that appeared in JASS, issue 2014