The Benefits of Trail Running: A Quantitative Inquiry into the Cognitive Domain

This crossover study aimed to investigate the impact on human cognition of an acute bout of trail running at 5 kilometers in distance as measured by a unique cognitive testing battery. It is well documented that aerobic exercise such as trail running provides enormous neuroprotective benefits through various physiological processes, including vascular adaptations and neurotrophin production. To date, no investigation into how a shorter duration trail run specifically impacts cognition has been conducted. For this crossover study, 22 participants were recruited using convenience sampling methods from adults fitting the necessary inclusion criteria from within the greater Nashville area. Participants were randomized to start in either the experimental condition (trail run) or the control condition (on a treadmill), where the runs were matched for intensity and incline. Participants performed a pre and post-test cognitive testing battery, and the resulting scores were quantitatively analyzed with a repeated measures ANOVA in SPSS (non-parametric tests where applicable). In the Attention Network Task (ANT), no significant effect was found for overall percentage of correct responses, reaction time, alerting effect, and orienting effect. ANT executive control effect scores were statistically significantly different between pre- and post-test in the experimental run. For the Serial Subtraction Task variables, the only statistically significant interaction was observed between pre- and post-test scores. This study provides a meaningful probe into how the uniquely cognitively challenging task of trail running impacts human cognition, and lays groundwork for future research that may help to design exercise interventions aimed at preventing and treating age related cognitive impairment.