Pre-Exercise Executive Function Predicts Affective Valence and Perceived Exertion During Acute Exercise

Background: Research suggests that affective responses to exercise and executive function (EF) processes contribute to habitual physical activity (PA) behavior. The purpose of this study is to provide empirical evidence for an emerging cognitive-affect model of PA by investigating the effect of pre-exercise working memory and inhibitory control on exercise-induced affect and perceptions of exertion. Methods: Healthy active young adults (N=28, 22.50 ± 3.25 yrs; 75% ♀, BMI = 24.89 ± 4.37 kg·m-2) completed the Flanker and N-back tasks (2 & 3-back) before completing an acute bout (31-min) of moderate-to-vigorous intensity (HR= 158.6 ± 9.9 b·min-1) treadmill running. Feeling Scale (FS) and Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE) were recorded every 3-minutes during the running session. Participants’ prior enjoyment to running was recorded pre-session and the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) was measured immediately following the session. Results: Reaction time (RT) measures were used for the cognitive tasks. Participants RT performance during 2-back (β= -0.51, t(23) = -2.51, P < 0.05) and 3-back (β= -0.40, t(24)= -2.14, P< 0.05) predicted more positive FS (i.e., pleasure) during exercise. Flanker RT significantly predicted RPE (β= 0.49, t(21)= 2.24, P < 0.05). Finally, pre-exercise EF was not associated with post-exercise enjoyment (i.e., PACES). Conclusion: Pre-exercise working memory and inhibitory control performance predicted affect and perceived exertion during exercise. Participants with faster RT to working memory tasks felt significantly more positive and those with faster RT during inhibitory control had significantly lower perceptions of exertion.