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Acute Effects of Moderate-Intensity Swimming Exercise on Inhibitory Control, Cognitive Flexibility, and Selective Attention
Sponsor: Görkem Açar
Summary
This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the acute effects of a single session of moderate-intensity freestyle swimming exercise on cognitive performance in healthy young adults. Cognitive functions such as inhibitory control, selective attention, and cognitive flexibility are essential components of executive functioning and play an important role in academic, occupational, and daily activities. A total of 60 healthy adults aged 18-35 years will be randomly assigned to either an exercise group or a control group. Participants in the exercise group will complete a 30-minute session of moderate-intensity freestyle swimming, while participants in the control group will undergo passive seated rest for the same duration. Cognitive performance will be evaluated immediately before and after the intervention using the Eriksen Flanker Task and the Stroop Color-Word Test. These assessments measure reaction time, attention control, information processing speed, and inhibitory control. The study is designed to determine whether a single bout of swimming exercise can produce immediate improvements in executive functions compared with passive rest. Findings from this research may contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between aerobic exercise and cognitive performance and may help inform exercise-based strategies for enhancing cognitive health and performance in healthy individuals.
Official title: Acute Effects of Moderate-Intensity Freestyle Swimming Exercise on Inhibitory Control, Cognitive Flexibility, and Selective Attention: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 35 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
60
Start Date
2026-05-01
Completion Date
2026-05-30
Last Updated
2026-06-26
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Interventions
Moderate-Intensity Freestyle Swimming Exercise
A single session of moderate-intensity freestyle swimming lasting 30 minutes. The protocol consisted of a 5-minute warm-up, 20 minutes of continuous freestyle swimming performed at approximately 60-70% of age-predicted maximum heart rate, and a 5-minute cool-down. Exercise intensity was monitored using ratings of perceived exertion and heart rate measurements.
Locations (1)
Istanbul Rumeli University, Faculty of Sport Sciences
Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)