Sports psychology

Aims] The effects of exercise on executive function may differ based on motor skills, closed skills, (CS) and open skills (OS).This study aimed to examine the effects of short, light-to-moderate intensity bouts of exercise throughout the day on executive function, including motor skills.[Methods] Fourteen healthy students performed an exercise program with strong OS elements, using videos of rhythm games, and an exercise program with strong CS elements of the same intensity and amount.The experiment was conducted under three conditions: CS, OS, and a control condition, in which no exercise was performed, and the participants remained at rest.The experiment was conducted on different days simultaneously with the same participants.Each exercise session lasted 10 min and was performed three times, approximately every hour.The Stroop color-word test and task-switching task were used to evaluate executive function, including inhibitory function, working memory, and cognitive flexibility.[Results and Discussion] Differences in motor skills did not affect inhibitory function or cognitive flexibility after exercise.However, regarding working memory, exercise with a strong OS element tended to temporarily improve working memory compared to exercise with a strong CS element.[Conclusion] Differences in motor skills may be involved in the effects of short, fragmented exercise sessions during the day on executive function.