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Caamaño-Navarrete F, Arriagada-Hernández C, Fuentes-Vilugrón G, Jara-Tomckowiack L, Levin-Catrilao A, del Val Martín P, Muñoz-Troncoso F, Delgado-Floody P. Healthy Lifestyle Related to Executive Functions in Chilean University Students: A Pilot Study. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:1022. [PMID: 38786435 PMCID: PMC11121206 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12101022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A negative lifestyle is reported to be related to cognitive problems. However, there is little information about this in relation to university students. The objective of the present study was to investigate the association between executive functions (EFs) and lifestyle parameters (i.e., physical activity (PA), sleep duration, screen time (ST), and food habits) among Chilean university students. METHODS This cross-sectional study included a total of 150 university students (94 females and 56 males, aged 21.28 ± 3.15 and 22.18 ± 2.90 years, respectively). Cognitive outcomes were measured using the CogniFit assessment battery. Lifestyle was measured through validated questionnaires. RESULTS Across the total sample, attention exhibited a positive association with PA h/week (β: 24.34 95% CI: 12.46 to 36.22, p = 0.001). Additionally, coordination was positively associated with PA h/week (β: 15.06 95% CI: 0.62 to 29.50, p < 0.041). PA h/week was positively linked with reasoning (β: 20.34 95% CI: 4.52 to 36.17, p = 0.012) and perception (β: 13.81 95% CI: 4.14 to 23.49, p = 0.005). Moreover, PA h/week was significantly linked to memory (β: 23.01 95% CI: 7.62 to 38.40, p = 0.004). In terms of the EFs, PA h/week showed a positive association with cognitive flexibility (β: 45.60 95% CI: 23.22 to 67.69, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, lifestyle (PA h/week) was positively associated with EFs. Therefore, an increase in PA levels among these students should be a target for community- and university-based interventions in order to promote cognitive development such as attention, coordination, reasoning, perception, memory, and cognitive flexibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Caamaño-Navarrete
- Physical Education Career, Faculty of Education, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco 4780000, Chile; (F.C.-N.); (C.A.-H.); (G.F.-V.)
- Collaborative Research Group for School Development (GICDE), Temuco 4780000, Chile;
| | - Carlos Arriagada-Hernández
- Physical Education Career, Faculty of Education, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco 4780000, Chile; (F.C.-N.); (C.A.-H.); (G.F.-V.)
- Collaborative Research Group for School Development (GICDE), Temuco 4780000, Chile;
| | - Gerardo Fuentes-Vilugrón
- Physical Education Career, Faculty of Education, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco 4780000, Chile; (F.C.-N.); (C.A.-H.); (G.F.-V.)
- Collaborative Research Group for School Development (GICDE), Temuco 4780000, Chile;
| | - Lorena Jara-Tomckowiack
- Collaborative Research Group for School Development (GICDE), Temuco 4780000, Chile;
- Faculty of Education, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco 4780000, Chile
| | - Alvaro Levin-Catrilao
- Doctoral Programme in Physical Activity Sciences, Faculty of Education Sciences, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3460000, Chile;
| | - Pablo del Val Martín
- Chilean Observatory of Physical Education and School Sport, Faculty of Education and Social Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Las Condes, Santiago 7550000, Chile;
| | - Flavio Muñoz-Troncoso
- Faculty of Social Sciences and Arts, Universidad Mayor, Temuco 4780000, Chile;
- Department of Psychology and Anthropology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Universidad de Extremadura, 06071 Badajoz, Spain
| | - Pedro Delgado-Floody
- Department of Physical Education, Sport and Recreation, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
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Hassan A, Deshun Z. Promoting adult health: the neurophysiological benefits of watering plants and engaging in mental tasks within designed environments. BMC Psychol 2023; 11:310. [PMID: 37803410 PMCID: PMC10557185 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-023-01362-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Indoor, sedentary lifestyles have disconnected individuals from nature, necessitating interventions to reestablish this bond. Performing horticultural activities, such as watering houseplants, offers a potential solution. This study sought to determine how participating in horticulture activities affected adults' cognitive and emotional moods. METHODS We compared the benefits of watering houseplants (a gardening task) to those of standing while performing a computer task (a mental task). Chinese participants, aged 20 to 21 years, were recruited; their physiological and psychological reactions were measured using electroencephalograms, blood pressure assessments, and psychological assessments. RESULTS Fifty participants were included. Watering indoor plants significantly reduced blood pressure, without affecting pulse rate. During the plant watering task as opposed to the mental activity, more dramatic different patterns of very high alpha and beta brainwave activity were identified. Participants reported increased happiness following gardening activities. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study highlight the substantial relaxation benefits, both mental and physical, associated with the simple act of watering indoor plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Hassan
- College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhang Deshun
- College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
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Ansah EW, Adabla M, Jerry N, Aloko EA, Hagan JE. Investigating sedentariness and health status of primary school teachers in Ghana. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:983. [PMID: 37700305 PMCID: PMC10498583 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09925-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Physical inactivity is linked to chronic illnesses and disabilities among workers, especially those in high demanding jobs like teachers. Despite the global prominence of sedentary behavior research, studies drawing the relationships between physical inactivity and multimorbidity among working teacher populations in low-and middle-countries remain untapped. This study assessed the sedentariness and health status of primary school teachers in Cape Coast Metropolis in Ghana. METHOD This cross-sectional survey employed 1109 primary school teachers from the Cape Coast Metropolis in the Central Region of Ghana, targeting the entire population. RESULTS Generally, the teachers were highly sedentary and reported poor health status. Other results showed no difference in sedentariness across gender, (n = 1107, t= -0.32, p > 0.05). However, female teachers suffer more pain and discomfort, (n = 1103.51), t = - 3.07, p < 0.05), anxiety and depression, (n = 1099.56), t = - 2.85, p < 0.000), and poor health status (n = 1107), t = 2.14, p < 0.05), than their male counterparts. Also, pain and discomfort, anxiety and depression, health status and years of work significantly predicted sedentariness among the teachers, F (4, 1104) = 5.966, p = 0.00, R = 0.145, R2 = 0.029, adjusted R2 = 0.018. CONCLUSION The findings suggest that individualized or personalized interventions are urgently needed to promote regular physical activity to improve the health status and reduce associated complications on the health and well-being, especially among the female primary school teachers. Given the health risks of sedentary lifestyle, behavioral interventions at the person-level (i.e., individualized- routine weekly physical activity programs) and built environmental restructuring (e.g., creation of walkways to encourage regular walking) could be done to improve physical activity behavior among teachers within the Cape Coast Metropolis, and perhaps beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward W Ansah
- Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER), University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
| | - Mawuli Adabla
- Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER), University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Norgbedzie Jerry
- Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER), University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Eric A Aloko
- Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER), University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - John E Hagan
- Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER), University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
- Neurocognition and Action-Biomechanics-Research Group, Faculty of Psychology and Sport Sciences, Bielefeld University, Postfach 10 01 31, Bielefeld, 33501, Germany
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Magnon V, Dutheil F, Vallet GT. The heart to make the right choice: Vagal (re)activity and recovery predict advantageous decision-making. Physiol Behav 2022; 254:113911. [PMID: 35820625 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.113911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
From simple everyday choices to life-altering decisions, decision-making is a crucial cognitive process in our daily life. Psychophysiological theories of heart-brain interactions involvement in cognition predict that general self-regulation capacities underlie cognitive processes including decision-making. Yet, in the context of decision-making, the somatic maker hypothesis postulates that the adaptability of the current physiological state should be the best predictor of advantageous decision-making. The present study tests compare self-regulation in general (indexed by resting vagal activity) and in a specific decisional context (vagal reactivity and recovery) to explain advantageous decision-making. Young adults (n = 54) completed a decision-making task while wearing a heart rate monitor. Bayesian regressions show that vagal reactivity and recovery combined is the preferred statistical model to explain advantageous decision-making (BF10 = 163.85). Those findings 1) support the somatic marker hypothesis highlighting the key role of in situ self-regulation in decision-making processes and 2) show that the popular and often used index of general self-regulation, resting vagal activity, is not the best predictor of decision-making performance, and perhaps even for other cognitive functions. A next step could be interventional studies to test whether vagal modulation of heart rate underlies decision-making through interventions that influence vagal activity, which could provide relevant clinical leads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentin Magnon
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LaPSCo, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France.
| | - Frederic Dutheil
- University Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LaPSCo, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, WittyFit, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Guillaume T Vallet
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LaPSCo, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France.
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Magnon V, Vallet GT, Benson A, Mermillod M, Chausse P, Lacroix A, Bouillon-Minois JB, Dutheil F. Does heart rate variability predict better executive functioning? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Cortex 2022; 155:218-236. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2022.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Magnon V, Dutheil F, Tauveron I, Mille J, Baker JS, Brusseau V, Silvert L, Izaute M, Vallet GT. Does an increase in physiological indexes predict better cognitive performance: the PhyCog randomised cross-over protocol in type 2 diabetes. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e060057. [PMID: 35777867 PMCID: PMC9252197 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-060057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There has been a growing interest towards cognitive-training programmes to improve cognition and prevent cognitive impairment despite discrepant findings. Physical activity has been recognised in maintaining or improving cognitive ability. Based on a psychoneurophysiological approach, physiological indexes should partly determine neuronal dynamics and influence cognition as any effects of cognitive training. This study's primary aim was to examine if improved physiological indexes predict improved cognitive variables in the context of a clinical intervention programme for type 2 diabetes (T2D). METHOD AND ANALYSIS PhyCog will be a 22-week randomised controlled trial comparing cognitive performance between three arms: (1) physical activity (1 month), a 15-day wash-out, then cognitive training (1 month), (2) cognitive training (1 month), a 15-day wash-out and physical activity (1 month), and (3) an active breathing condition (psychoeducation and resonance frequency breathing for 1 month), then a 15-day wash-out, and combined physical activity and cognitive training (1 month), allowing to determine the most effective intervention to prevent cognitive impairment associated with T2D. All participants will be observed for 3 months following the intervention. The study will include a total of 81 patients with T2D.Cognitive performance and physiological variables will be assessed at baseline (week 0-W0), during the washout (W5, 72-96 hours after week 4), at the end of the intervention (W10), and at the end of the follow-up (W22). The main variables of interest will be executive function, memory and attention. Physiological testing will involve allostatic load such as heart rate variability, microcirculation, cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels. Sociodemographic and body composition will also be a consideration. Assessors will all be blinded to outcomes. To test the primary hypothesis, the relationship between improvement in physiological variables and improvement in cognitive variables (executive, memory and attention) will be collected. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This protocol was approved by the Est III French Ethics Committee (2020-A03228-31). Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT04915339.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentin Magnon
- Psychology, University Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LAPSCO, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Frederic Dutheil
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital Centre, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Igor Tauveron
- Endocrinology Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases, University Hospital Center, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Jordan Mille
- Psychology, University Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LAPSCO, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | | | - Valentin Brusseau
- Endocrinology Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases, University Hospital Center, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Laetitia Silvert
- Psychology, University Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LAPSCO, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Marie Izaute
- Psychology, University Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LAPSCO, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Guillaume T Vallet
- Psychology, University Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LAPSCO, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
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Effects of Physical Activity Level on Attentional Networks in Young Adults. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19095374. [PMID: 35564768 PMCID: PMC9105944 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19095374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Although physical activity is associated with better attentional functioning in elderly populations or in specific clinical populations, the association between physical activity level and attention has been less studied in young adult populations. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether the positive effects of physical activity on attentional networks extend to young adults. In total, 57 college students were recruited and assigned to one of three groups of physical activity levels (high, moderate, and low) based on their self-reported exercise. Each participant completed the Attention Network Test to evaluate the efficiency of three components of attention: alerting, orienting, and executive control. Compared with the low physical activity group, both the high and moderate physical activity groups exhibited better executive control. In addition, the efficiency of the executive control network was positively correlated with physical activity. By contrast, no statistically significant differences were detected among these three groups for the functioning of the alerting or orienting networks. These findings suggested that physical activity had a positive effect on attention in young adults, with the benefit primarily observed for the executive control component rather than for the alerting and orienting components of attention.
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Magnon V, Mille J, Purkart R, Izaute M, Chausse P, Dutheil F, Vallet GT. When does vagal activity benefit to the discrimination of highly overlapping memory traces? Int J Psychophysiol 2022; 177:61-66. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2022.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Attention and Emotional States during Horticultural Activities of Adults in 20s Using Electroencephalography: A Pilot Study. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su132312968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Since indoor, sedentary lifestyles became prevalent in society, humans have lost a sustainable connection to nature. An intervention utilizing outdoor horticultural activities could address such a challenge, but their beneficial effects on the brain and emotions have not been characterized in a quantitative approach. We aimed to investigate brain activity and emotional changes in adults in their 20s during horticultural activity to confirm feasibility of horticultural activity to improve cognitive and emotional states. Sixty university students participated in 11 outdoor horticultural activities at 2-min intervals. We measured brain waves of participants’ prefrontal cortex using a wireless electroencephalography device while performing horticultural activities. Between activities, we evaluated emotional states of participants using questionnaires. Results showed that each horticultural activity showed promotion of brain activity and emotional changes at varying degrees. The participants during physically intensive horticultural activities—digging, raking, and pruning—showed the highest attention level. For emotional states, the participants showed the highest fatigue, tension, and vigor during digging and raking. Plant-based activities—harvesting and transplanting plants—made participants feel natural and relaxed the most. Therefore, this pilot study confirmed the possibility of horticultural activity as a short-term physical intervention to improve attention levels and emotional stability in adults.
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