Together towards better executive functions? Effects of acute cognitively demanding physical activity and social interaction on inhibition

Background and aims

Research has shown that acute physical activity (PA) improves inhibition performance. However, further information is needed on potential moderators that may influence this effect. Since social interaction (SoI) was proposed as an important PA characteristic influencing the PA-inhibition relation, this study examines the effects of acute PA and SoI on inhibition.

Methods

In a 2 $\times$ 2 within-subject design, 96 participants (17–26 years, M = 20.5; SD = 1.7, 50% female) underwent four experimental conditions, consisting of a cognitively challenging (exer-)game varying in PA (PA/no PA) and SoI (SoI/no SoI). After each condition, inhibition performance was assessed using the Eriksen Flanker Task.

Results

Repeated measures ANOVAs revealed that acute PA enhanced inhibition, leading to faster reaction times (ƞ²_p = 0.169) and higher accuracy rates (ƞ²_p = 0.090). However, the results showed speed-accuracy trade-offs for SoI, with faster reaction times (ƞ²_p = 0.041) and lower accuracy rates (ƞ²_p = 0.140). No interaction effects for PA and SoI on inhibition were observed (ƞ²_ps = 0.005–0.036).

Conclusion

Our findings confirm that an acute bout of cognitively challenging PA can enhance inhibition performance but has no joint effects with SoI, which facilitated performance speed but worsened accuracy. Likely, the physically and cognitively challenging nature of the exergaming bout may have limited room for further improvement by SoI. Future acute PA studies should jointly explore the role of SoI and cognitive engagement in acute PA to identify an optimal pattern of task and context factors for reaping executive functions (EFs) gains.