Exploring Decision-Making Processes: The Impact of Intense Exercise

Abstract

AbstractThe present study aims at deciphering the impact of high-intensity interval exercise on cognitive processes related to perceptual decision-making through computational modelling. To that end, participants completed a perceptual decision task before, after, and while exercising at high-intensity (8 x 5min, 85 ± 8% HRmax). Cognitive processes were assessed by determining the best-fitting parameters of a drift diffusion model (DDM) based on behavioral data (accuracy and reaction times). Behavioral data indicated faster reaction time while cycling and a trend toward enhanced cognitive performance following exercise. Immediately post-exercise, the results revealed significant changes in the main parameters of the drift-diffusion model compared to before exercise, suggesting an improvement of perceptual discrimination, more efficient non-decisional processes (perceptual encoding and motor execution), associated with a more cautious decision strategy. The exercise-induced impact during exercise completion presented a different picture. When the cognitive task was performed while exercising, no modulation of perceptual discrimination was observed. Additionally, there was a modulation of the decision strategy, with progressively less cautious decisions during exercise, and an intricate dynamic in the evolution of non-decisional processes.