Information Processing and Concentration as a Function of Fitness Level and Exercise-Induced Activation to Exhaustion

To examine the effects of increasing amounts of exercise on attention and speed of information processing 20 paid male subjects were separated into groups of high and low fitness according to their VO₂max values. The experiment involved an attentional task (Random Number Generation) that was given after every 10 min. of cycling at work-load resistances calculated as 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, and 80% of individual VO₂max values. An eight-choice reaction time-movement time task was given before and after exercise as well as after a 15-min. recovery period. Individuals were tested within 10 min. after exercise cessation (exhaustion) for concentration and within 15 min. for choice reaction time and movement time to assess whether fitness differentially interacted with these variables. Split-plot factorial analyses of variance suggested that the CNS appeared capable of maintaining performance after 50 min. of exhaustive exercise compared to values obtained at the preexercise condition. A 15-min. recovery period significantly impaired MT but relatively highly fit individuals did not appear to perform the choice RT and concentration tasks better than individuals low in fitness.