Analysis Of The Effect Of FNIRS Based Exergame Exercise On Improving Brain Executive Function In Sedentary College Students

Purpose: This study used functional near-infrared spectroscopy(fNIRS)to analyse the executive function of the brain in sedentary university students and investigated the effect of 4 weeks of moderate intensity exergame exercise and brisk walking on the executive function of the brain and observed the difference,in order to explore the cognitive effects of exergame in the form of games combined with physical activity,and also to provide a scientific basis for the application of physical exercise in the field of cognitive training for sedentary people,and to provide data support and methodological reference for the search of exercise forms to improve cognitive function.Methods: Thirty-seven sedentary college students from the Chengdu Institute of Physical Education and Sports were randomly divided into an Eg group(n=12),a Walk group(n=12)and a Control group(n=13).The Eg group completed a 4-week "Just Dance" physical dance programme,the Walk group completed a 4-week aerobic exercise programme consisting of 30 minutes of brisk walking 3 times a week and the Con group maintained their normal lifestyle.Executive function tests were performed before and after the exercise intervention and the degree of activation of oxyhaemoglobin(HbO)in prefrontal brain regions during the Stroop task was monitored using the fNIRS technique,where executive function indicators included reaction time and correctness on the Stroop colour-vocabulary task and completion time on the TMT A-B task.All data were statistically analysed and processed using SPSS 23.0 software.Repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyse the response time and correctness of the Stroop task,the completion time of the TMT A-B task and various indicators of the fNIRS acquisition channel blood oxygen signal.Results:(1)In the Stroop task,the task main effect was significant(P<0.001),the inconsistent task condition response time was significantly longer than the consistent task condition,the interaction between inconsistent condition group and time was significant(P<0.001),there was a significant difference between the Eg and Walk groups before and after the intervention(P<0.001),the inconsistent response time was significantly lower in the Eg group after the intervention than before the intervention and the inconsistent response time in the Walk group was significantly lower after the intervention than before;the task main effect on accuracy was significant(P<0.05),with the inconsistent task correct rate significantly lower than the consistent task condition.(2)On the TMT A-B test,there was a significant time-point main effect on TMT-A(P<0.001),with completion times significantly shorter after the intervention than before;a significant group and time-point interaction effect on TMT-B(P<0.05),with completion times significantly shorter in the Eg group after the intervention than before(P<0.001),and similarly completion times significantly shorter in the Walk group after the intervention than(P<0.001),and completion times were significantly shorter in the Eg and Walk groups than in the Con group after the intervention(P<0.05).(3)The fNIRS measurements showed a significant(P<0.05)left-DLPFC group and time point interaction effect in the consistent condition,and the Hb O values in the Eg and Walk groups increased significantly after the intervention(P<0.05),while there was no significant change in the Con group before and after the intervention(P>0.05),and the Hb O values in the Walk group were significantly higher than those in the control group after the intervention(P<0.05);The FPA group and time point interaction effect in the inconsistent condition was significant(P<0.05),and the Eg group showed a significant increase in Hb O values after the intervention(P<0.05),while the Walk and Con groups showed no significant change before and after the intervention(P>0.05).Conclusions:(1)Both 4 weeks of moderate intensity exergame exercise and brisk walking improved executive function and brain activation in sedentary university students,and both significantly reduced inconsistent conditioned response times in the Stroop task.(2)The two types of exercise differed in their effects on improving brain function,with exergame exercise improving prefrontal activation better than brisk walking,as reflected by the broader range of brain area activation by exergame exercise,with brisk walking enhancing activation primarily in the left DLPFC and exergame exercise enhancing activation primarily in the left DLPFC and FPA.