The Effect of Acute Concurrent Exercise on Executive Function: An Event-Related Potential Study
Phase: NA
Conditions: Executive Function
Sponsor: National Taiwan Normal University

NCT05314634 
 
24 December 2023 
 
The Effect of Acute Concurrent Exercise on Executive Function: 
An Event-Related Potential Study 
 
Participants 
Seven to eight younger adults aged 21 to 28 years from universities surrounding 
Taipei City, Taiwan, were recruited. All participants met seven inclusion criteria as follows: 
(1) right-handed dominant, (2) normal or corrected-to-normal vision, (3) no psychiatric or 
neurological disorders, (4) no regular exercise habits, (5) non-obese, (6) no cardiorespiratory 
diseases, and (7) no neuromuscular disorders. 
 
Intervention 
Participants in group CE were asked to warm up with a cycle ergometer for 5 minutes, 
with revolutions per minute (RPM) and wattage (W) set at 70 and 25, respectively. W was 
gradually increased to near-moderate HR during warm-up, and HR reached moderate 
intensity at the end. Participants then performed moderate AE for 12 minutes with a cycle 
ergometer, with the intensity set at 40–59% of HR reserve (HRR). After finishing AE, lactate 
was measured (mid-lactate). Participants then performed moderate RE for approximately 13 
minutes, with training volume set at 1 set, 12 repetitions, 8 movements (consistent with 
baseline measurements) of 70% 10-RM with strength training machines, following the half 
training volume of a study published by (Hsieh et al., 2016). After finishing RE, participants 
completed a whole-body stretching routine for 5 minutes. The process in group AE was 
similar to group CE; however, AE changed to 25 minutes, and RE was canceled. Participants 
in group RC finished 35 minutes of magazine reading. 
 
Electroencephalogram 
Electroencephalogram (EEG) recorded utilized a 32-channel electrode cap (Quik-Cap 
Neo Net; Compumedics Neuroscan, Charlotte, NC) in conjunction with CURRY 8 Data 
Acquisition and Online Processing software (Compumedics Neuroscan, Charlotte, NC). 
Electrode positions were arranged in accordance with the extended International 10–10 
System. Continuous online EEG data were initially re-referenced to the averaged signals 
from left and right mastoid electrodes (M1 and M2), with the AFz electrode serving as the 
ground reference. The electrooculogram (EOG) activity was concurrently monitored using 
additional electrodes positioned above and below the left-eye orbit and outer canthus of each 
eye. To maintain optimal recording conditions, the impedance of electrodes was diligently 
kept below 10 kΩ throughout the entire EEG recording period. This rigorous approach 
ensured the reliability and accuracy of the recorded neuro-electric signals. 
 
Procedure 
Participants were required to conduct two experiments. The first served as the 
baseline measurement, and the second as the research intervention. The two experiments 
needed to be separated by at least 7 days to avoid the possible acute influence of fitness 
measurements on physiological and psychological variables. 
For the baseline measurement, participants first completed an informed consent form. 
Then, they took the Digit Span Forward and Backward test (Ryan & Lopez, 2001) and filled 
out demographic questionnaires, which included the Physical Activity Readiness 
Questionnaire (PAR-Q) (American College of Sports Medicine, 2022) and the International 
Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) (Hagströmer et al., 2006). The Digit Span Forward 
and Backward test was employed to describe other variables that might influence cognitive 
performance (Ryan & Lopez, 2001). The PAR-Q was used following ACSM guidelines to 
ensure participants had no potential risk factors for performing a single bout of exercise 

NCT05314634 
 
24 December 2023 
 
(American College of Sports Medicine, 2022). The IPAQ was used to check that participants 
did not have exercise habits defined as total physical activity under 150 minutes per week, 
following ACSM guidelines (American College of Sports Medicine, 2022; Hagströmer et al., 
2006). Secondly, BMI, cardiorespiratory fitness, and 10-repetition maximum (10-RM) were 
assessed. Cardiorespiratory fitness was estimated using the submaximal YMCA Ergometer 
Test with a cycle ergometer (Corival cpet, Lode, Netherlands) (American College of Sports 
Medicine, 2022; Beekley et al., 2004). 10-RM was measured following National Strength and 
Conditioning Association guidelines (National Strength and Conditioning Association, 2016) 
for chest press, rowing, lat pull down, shoulder press, arm curl, leg extension, leg press, and 
leg curl with strength training machines (Cybex, Germany). These measurements were 
examined to ensure the baselines of participants were similar. Finally, all participants drew 
lots and were randomly assigned to three groups: group CE, AE, and reading control (RC). 
For the intervention, participants first conducted a pre-test of the executive function 
test and concurrently collected EEG activity. Secondly, participants were instructed to 
perform the intervention. Finally, all participants completed a post-test of the executive 
function test and concurrently collected EEG activity. 
 
Task-switching test 
Task-switching test comprised six blocks, each containing 64 trials. In the initial 
block, participants were tasked with determining whether the stimulus (digits 1–9, excluding 
digit 5) within the solid-line square was greater or less than the digit 5 (AAAA…). In the 
second block, participants identified whether the stimulus within the dotted-line square was 
even or odd (BBBB…). Blocks 3–6 were characterized by an equal number of stimuli from 
the first and second blocks, forming an alternating-runs paradigm (AABBAA…). Mean 
Reaction Time (RT) for correct responses and accuracy (ACC) for the following conditions 
were then calculated to facilitate statistical analysis: (1) homogeneous condition (AAAA or 
BBBB); (2) heterogeneous condition (AABBAA…); (3) non-switch (AA or BB in the 
heterogeneous condition); and (4) switch (AB or BA in the heterogeneous condition). 
 
Stroop test 
Stroop test comprised four blocks, each containing 108 trials. Within these trials, three 
types were distinguished: neutral, congruent, and incongruent trials. The neutral trial featured 
a square print in red, green, and blue colors. The congruent trial presented Chinese language 
prints in the same colors, accompanied by corresponding words [i.e., 紅 (RED), 綠 
(GREEN), or 藍 (BLUE)]. In contrast, the incongruent trial displayed Chinese language 
prints in different colors and words [e.g., 紅 (RED) print in blue color]. Each block included 
an equal distribution of 36 neutral trials, 36 congruent trials, and 36 incongruent trials. 
Participants received explicit instructions to respond to the color of the stimulus with both 
speed and accuracy. Mean response time (RT), considering only correct trials, and accuracy 
for each Stroop condition underwent subsequent analysis. 
 
Exercise Intensity Measurement 
An objective index of exercise intensity was heart rate (HR), measured using HR 
monitors (H10; Polar Electro Oy, Kempele, Finland), which were employed to gauge the 
exercise intensity manipulation. Participants wore an HR monitor throughout the 
cardiorespiratory fitness test and the intervention. Four HR indices were identified: pre-test 
(assessed before and after the pre-test of CF), resting (assessed after sitting quietly in a 
comfortable chair for 5 minutes before the intervention), intervention (assessed at 2-minute 
intervals during the intervention), and post-test (assessed before and after the post-test of CF). 
 
 

NCT05314634 
 
24 December 2023 
 
Reference 
 
American College of Sports Medicine. (2022). ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and 
Prescription (G. Liguori, Ed. 11th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. 
https://shop.lww.com/ACSM-s-Guidelines-for-Exercise-Testing-and-
Prescription/p/9781975150181  
Beekley, M. D., Brechue, W. F., deHoyos, D. V., Garzarella, L., Werber-Zion, G., & Pollock, 
M. L. (2004). Cross-validation of the YMCA submaximal cycle ergometer test to 
predict VO2max. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 75(3), 337–342. 
https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2004.10609165  
Hagströmer, M., Oja, P., & Sjöström, M. (2006). The International Physical Activity 
Questionnaire (IPAQ): A study of concurrent and construct validity. Public Health 
Nutrition, 9(6), 755–762. https://doi.org/10.1079/phn2005898  
Hsieh, S. S., Chang, Y. K., Hung, T. M., & Fang, C. L. (2016). The effects of acute resistance 
exercise on young and older males' working memory. Psychology of Sport and 
Exercise, 22, 286–293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2015.09.004  
National Strength and Conditioning Association. (2016). Essentials of Strength Training and 
Conditioning (G. G. Haff & N. T. Triplett, Eds. 4ed ed.). Human Kinetics. 
https://www.nsca.com/store/product-detail/INV/9781718210868/9781718210868  
Ryan, J. J., & Lopez, S. J. (2001). Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III. In W. I. Dorfman & 
M. Hersen (Eds.), Understanding Psychological Assessment (pp. 19–42). Springer 
US. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1185-4_2