How do exergame training affect college students' spatial working memory? The differential role of cognitive engagement and exercise intensity.

PURPOSE

This study examines how cognitive engagement and exercise intensity in exergame training differentially enhance spatial working memory (SWM) accuracy and reaction time among college students.

METHOD

156 college students were equally divided into four groups: low cognition-high intensity group (LCHI, 28 males and 11 females), high cognition-high intensity group (HCHI, 28 males and 11 females), low cognition-low intensity group (LCLI, 27 males and 12 females) and high cognition-low intensity group (HCLI, 28 males and 11 females). Each groups underwent exergame training, which was divided into a total of 8 weeks, 2 times per week, and the participants' SWM was assessed at four time points: baseline (T1), after one time of exergame training (T2), after 4 weeks of exergame training (T3), after 8 weeks of exergame training (T4).

RESULTS

A single session of exercise training was able to improve participants' SWM. Exercise intensity and cognitive engagement had different effects in college students' SWM, higher exercise intensity significantly reduced SWM reaction time, while higher cognitive engagement significantly improved SWM accuracy.

CONCLUSION

High cognitive engagement improved SWM accuracy, while high exercise intensity reduced reaction time. Exergame training with high cognitive engagement and high exercise intensity had the best effect on improving college students' SWM.