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Background <p>Aerobic fitness has a positive relation to cognitive function, including attention. Also, an increased aerobic fitness has been associated to better cardiac autonomic control, verified by heart rate variability (HRV). Higher levels of HRV are related to better attention.</p> Aims <p>To compare the cognitive performance and cardiac autonomic control of young adults with different levels of aerobic fitness (higher vs lower).</p> Methods <p>Twenty-four young male college students were recruited (aged 22.5 ± 3&#xa0;years) to participate. The attention was evaluated through the attention network test (ANT). Aerobic capacity (<i>V</i>O<sub>2</sub>max) was estimated according to the strand nomogram. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated, and skinfolds were performed. HRV was assessed at rest in the sitting position for 10&#xa0;min before the ANT. Participants were divided into higher and lower fitness groups according to <i>V</i>O<sub>2</sub>max.</p> Results <p>The higher fitness group compared to lower fitness group demonstrated greater cardiac autonomic control (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) and better executive control of attention (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), verified by the conflict component of the ANT. A moderate inverse correlation was found between VO₂max and the conflict effect (<i>r</i> = − 0.50, <i>p</i> = 0.04). Correlation between the conflict effect and HRV [standard deviation of R–R intervals (SDNN) and root mean square of the successive differences between adjacent normal R–R intervals (RMSSD)] was observed [(<i>r</i> = − 0.56, <i>p</i> = 0.01) and (<i>r</i> = − 0.46, <i>p</i> = 0.05)], respectively. Also, there was no difference in the sum of skinfolds or BMI between groups.</p> Conclusions <p>Higher fitness group demonstrated greater cardiac autonomic control and executive control of attention compared to the lower fitness group. Still, the greater autonomic control seems to favor the greater executive control of attention. Young college students appear to have greater cardiac and cognitive function when they have higher aerobic capacity.</p>

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Aerobic fitness and autonomic control are associated with executive attention in young college students

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月13日

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  • Arilson Fernandes Mendonça de Sousa

摘要

Background

Aerobic fitness has a positive relation to cognitive function, including attention. Also, an increased aerobic fitness has been associated to better cardiac autonomic control, verified by heart rate variability (HRV). Higher levels of HRV are related to better attention.

Aims

To compare the cognitive performance and cardiac autonomic control of young adults with different levels of aerobic fitness (higher vs lower).

Methods

Twenty-four young male college students were recruited (aged 22.5 ± 3 years) to participate. The attention was evaluated through the attention network test (ANT). Aerobic capacity (VO2max) was estimated according to the strand nomogram. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated, and skinfolds were performed. HRV was assessed at rest in the sitting position for 10 min before the ANT. Participants were divided into higher and lower fitness groups according to VO2max.

Results

The higher fitness group compared to lower fitness group demonstrated greater cardiac autonomic control (p < 0.05) and better executive control of attention (p < 0.05), verified by the conflict component of the ANT. A moderate inverse correlation was found between VO₂max and the conflict effect (r = − 0.50, p = 0.04). Correlation between the conflict effect and HRV [standard deviation of R–R intervals (SDNN) and root mean square of the successive differences between adjacent normal R–R intervals (RMSSD)] was observed [(r = − 0.56, p = 0.01) and (r = − 0.46, p = 0.05)], respectively. Also, there was no difference in the sum of skinfolds or BMI between groups.

Conclusions

Higher fitness group demonstrated greater cardiac autonomic control and executive control of attention compared to the lower fitness group. Still, the greater autonomic control seems to favor the greater executive control of attention. Young college students appear to have greater cardiac and cognitive function when they have higher aerobic capacity.