Exergames: Effects On Executive Function In Sedentary University Students Measured With Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy

PURPOSE: This study analysed the executive function of sedentary college students using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), investigated the effects of 4 weeks of moderate-intensity exergames on the executive function of sedentary college students and its brain mechanisms. METHODS: A total of 25 sedentary college students were recruited in this study and randomly divided into a somatosensory group (n = 12) and a control group (n = 13). Inclusion criteria: sedentary as determined using IPAQ. Exergame group completed a 4-week somatic dance programme, 30 minutes in duration, three times a week, at an intensity of 65-75% of maximum heart rate. Executive function tests(Stroop colour-vocabulary task and TMT A-B task) and cerebral blood oxygenation signal tests(activation level of HbO by using fNIRS) were performed before and after exercise intervention. All data were statistically analysed using SPSS 23.0 software. Stroop task were analysed using a 3-way ANOVA, TMT A-B task was analysed using a 2-way ANOVA, and channel oxygen signals from fNIRS acquisition channel were analysed using a repeated-measures ANOVA with simple effects analyses performed if interactions were significant then simple effects analyses were performed. RESULTS: (1) In Stroop task, all reaction times in exergame group significantly lower post-intervention than pre-intervention (P < 0.05). (2) In TMT A-B test, completion time of post-intervention was significantly lower than pre-intervention (P < 0.05). (3) In fNIRS blood oxygenation signal test, left DLPFC group and time point interaction effects were significant in the consistent condition (P < 0.05), HbO of the exergame group increased significantly after the intervention (P < 0.05), FPA group and time point interaction effects were significant in the inconsistent condition (P < 0.05), exergame group HbO increased significantly after the intervention (P < 0.05), while the control group showed no significant change before and after the intervention (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: 4-week moderate-intensity exergames improved executive function and brain activation in sedentary college students, significantly reducing inconsistent conditioned response times in the Stroop task. Exergames heightened the activation of left DLPFC and FPA.