Semantic and affective processing of implicit associations are related to the regularity of running behaviour in young women: an ERP study

Abstract

Regular exercise behaviour is related to positive affective processes that are not necessarily accessible to consciousness (i.e., implicit associations). However, this relationship is weak when implicit associations are measured by behavioural responses, such as reaction times (often calculated as D-Scores). We aimed to investigate how these behavioural responses (D-Score) of implicit associations are related to underlying neural components of semantic (N400) and affective (LPP) processing. A sample of 46 young women participated. They differed in the regularity of their running behaviour (i.e., regular runners, irregular runners and non-runners). Implicit associations towards running were measured in a laboratory setting using a Single-Target Implicit Association Test (ST-IAT) and concurrent electroencephalography (EEG). Positive N400 mean difference amplitudes distinguished regular runners from others. D-Scores correlated with LPP mean difference amplitudes in regular runners, but not in irregular runners or non-runners. N400 and LPP showed a negative correlation only in regular runners. Positive semantic processing of implicit associations may be an indicator for regular running behaviour. In contrast, affective processing may represent a momentary implicit behavioural response towards running in regular runners. Furthermore, the N400-LPP relationship implies that regular runners may implicitly associate running as positive by relying on either semantic or affective processing. These findings provide an opportunity for further research–for example, to investigate the interactive semantic-affective processing relationship and their potential role in novice runners. In conclusion, semantic (N400) and affective (LPP) processing may represent two distinct neural components of implicit associations that are related to regular running in young women.