Effects of exercise on cognition, specifically executive function, in college-aged participants
Abstract
My Honors Thesis project investigated the effects of exercise on cognition in college-aged students from Oklahoma State University. Currently, the literature explores the effects of exercise on the cognitive functioning of older adults suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, and little research can be found on younger populations. My hypothesis was that after a short bout of exercise and a short rest period, college-aged participants would score higher on an incongruent Stroop test than they did before the exercise bout. Twenty participants completed my study, and they were compensated with a $15 Amazon gift card. After the statistical analysis on the data was completed, the results showed a significant difference in pre- and post-test results, supporting the hypothesis that exercise would facilitate cognitive functioning. The application of my research is that there is a positive correlation between exercise and improvements in cognitive functioning in college-aged individuals, which can translate to students potentially scoring higher on exams when they exercise before their exams.