A 10-minute session of very slow running significantly enhanced mood, improved executive function, and elicited left lateral prefrontal cortex activation compared to a resting control.
RCT (n=24)
Randomized order
Does a 10-minute very slow running session improve mood and executive function in healthy participants compared to a resting control session?
A single 10-minute bout of very slow running acutely improves mood and executive function while increasing prefrontal cortex activation in healthy individuals.
ABSTRACT Although running upright has been reported to have positive effects on both physical and mental health, the minimum running intensity/speed that would benefit mood and prefrontal cognition is not yet clear. For this reason, we aimed to investigate the acute effect of very slow running, which is classified as a very light intensity exercise, on mood, executive function (EF), and their neural substrates in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Twenty-four healthy participants completed a 10-minute very slow running session on a treadmill at 35% and a resting control session in randomized order. EF was measured using the Stroop task and the mood state was measured using the Two-Dimensional Mood Scale (TDMS) before and after both sessions. Cortical hemodynamic changes while performing the task were monitored using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The results show that ten minutes of very slow running significantly enhanced mood, reduced Stroop interference time (i.e., enhanced EF), and elicited left lateral PFC activation. Moreover, head acceleration, the magnitude of up-and-down oscillations, was measured during running, and a significant positive correlation with pleasant mood was found. Head acceleration is a remarkable characteristic of running and may be one of the factors related to a pleasant mood induced by very slow running. In conclusion, the current study reveals that a single bout of running, even at very slow speed, elicits a pleasant mood and improved executive function with enhancing activation in prefrontal subregions. This shed light on the slow running benefits to brain health.
Damrongthai et al. (Tue,) conducted a rct in Healthy (n=24). Very slow running vs. Resting control session was evaluated on Mood, executive function, and prefrontal cortex activation. A 10-minute session of very slow running significantly enhanced mood, improved executive function, and elicited left lateral prefrontal cortex activation compared to a resting control.