The recovery effect of acute aerobic exercise and music intervention on working memory under mental fatigue.

People are prone to mental fatigue following prolonged work or study, which can lead to a decline in working memory performance. Addressing the adverse effects of mental fatigue on working memory has become a focus of research attention. Aerobic exercise and music are possible intervention methods. Following confirmation of the impact of mental fatigue on working memory, this study developed three intervention protocols (moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, fast-paced music, and aerobic exercise combined with fast-paced music) to investigate their effects on working memory performance under mental fatigue. The results indicated that following the onset of mental fatigue, both aerobic exercise and fast-paced music were effective in restoring working memory performance impaired by mental fatigue, with this positive effect potentially attributed to alterations in alertness. This study may offer insights for individuals seeking to restore working memory under conditions of mental fatigue.