Psychophysiological Effects of Comfortable Walking Exercise on a Working Memory Task The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of comfortable walking on brain activity during a working memory task using multiple psychophysiological evaluations. We used the Roken Arousal Scale as a subjective evaluation, and electroencephalograms (alpha attenuation coefficient (AAC), xcexb8Fzxcexb1Pz) and nearinfrared spectroscopy (oxygenated hemoglobin) as physiological indices. AAC is an evaluation index of arousal level, and xcexb8Fzxcexb1Pz is an evaluation index of concentration power. To determine the comfortable walking speed for each participant, we used a 10m walking test. The oxygenated hemoglobin concentration, AAC, and xcexb8Fzxcexb1Pz value tended to increase with walking at a comfortable speed at the time of the working memory task. In conclusion, when comfortably walking while performing a working memory task, the decrease in the brainu0027s arousal level is suppressed, and working memory ability and concentration are maintained.

Applying the Interaction of WalkingEmotion to an Assistive Device for Rehabilitation and Exercise To maintain a high level of motivation is a vital issue during rehabilitation because rehabilitation involves much pain, depression, and discomfort. To study the mental state of patients is necessary. A new assistive approach using emotion evaluation combined with an assistive walking device to maintain motivation during the rehabilitation is proposed. To realize it, the walkingemotion relationship within personal walking limitation (PWL) was explored at first. The results showed that when people walked by following the personal preferred walking ratio (PPWR), they were evoked the arousal emotion and kept the current valence emotion simultaneously; however, when people were not following PPWR to walk, the negative emotion was elicited. After that, subject was required to wear the assistive walking device to conduct the test, which aims to observe the emotion variation when subject walked at specific walking gait with an assistive device. We then are according to current emotion state to tune device. The findings show if people mistakenly use the device, unpleasant feeling would be elicited. When we properly tuning assistive device conforms to current gait, it can validly alleviate the negative emotion further becoming the positive emotion. From these results, we conclude that emotion can be affected by walking. By using walkingemotion evaluation to an assistive device, we can be according to usersxe2x80x99 emotion to control device; also, we can use an assistive device to inspire usersxe2x80x99 emotion to further maintain motivation. Finally, this assistive approach provides a useful treatment way for serving rehabilitation.