Effect of Queen’s College Step Test on Cognitive Performance among Young Adults

Abstract

In many recent studies, moderate intensity aerobic exercise has been shown to improve mental performance. Majority of the studies have focused on the chronic effects of exercise, while studies on the acute effe cts of exercise on cognition have started to draw growing attention of the researchers. The main objective of the present study was to establish the fact that Queens College step test (QCT), a short duration step test exercise is a useful tool for improving mental performance of young adult population. Ten healthy young male adults participated for the present study. They performed following cognitive tasks i.e. simple reaction time (SRT) for measuring speed of processing, stroop task for selective attention, during before exercise, immediate after exercise and 30 minutes after exercise. The performance times were recorded and carotid pulse was also measured immediately after the exercise. The finding of the study states that there was a significant decrease in SRT, and stroop task performance time immediately after exercise, 30 minutes after exercise compared to before exercise condition. QCT was found as an effective exercise tool in terms of its simplicity of performance, and less time consuming for improving the speed of processing and selective attention in young adults. ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR