An acute bout of localized resistance exercise can rapidly improve inhibitory control

PLoS One. 2017 Sep 6;12(9):e0184075. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184075. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

The positive effect of acute resistance exercise on executive function, such as inhibitory control (IC), is poorly understood. Several previous studies have demonstrated this effect using whole-body resistance exercise. However, it remains unclear whether localized resistance exercise performed using only limited muscle groups could also acutely improve IC. Thus, the present study examined the effect of an acute bout of localized resistance exercise on IC. Twelve healthy men performed a color-word Stroop task (CWST) before and immediately after the experimental conditions, which consisted of 2 resistance exercises and a resting control (CON). Bilateral knee extension was used to create 2 resistance exercise conditions: light-intensity resistance exercise (LRE) and high-intensity resistance exercise (HRE) conditions, which were 40% and 80% of one-repetition maximum, respectively. The resistance exercise session was programmed for 6 sets with 10 repetitions per set. The CWST-measured IC was significantly improved immediately after both LRE and HRE, but it did not improve immediately after CON. However, the improved IC was significantly greater in HRE than in LRE. The present findings showed that IC could be rapidly improved by an acute bout of localized resistance exercise, especially with high-intensity. Therefore, we suggest that in addition to whole-body resistance exercise, localized resistance exercise performed using limited muscle groups may be sufficient for improving IC.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Executive Function
  • Humans
  • Inhibition, Psychological*
  • Male
  • Physical Exertion
  • Resistance Training*
  • Stroop Test
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This study was supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (#15J04023 to Hayato Tsukamoto; #15K16497 to Tadashi Suga; #15K12676 to Takeshi Hashimoto; #15H03077 to Tadao Isaka).