Effects Of Table Tennis Combined Cognitive Training And Pure Cognitive Training On Executive Function Of College Students

Objective:Executive Function refers to the higher neuropsychological function of controlling and regulating cognitive process and realizing goal-oriented behavior,which plays an important role in the psychological growth of college students.In recent years,the effects of exercise intervention and cognitive training on the improvement of individual executive function have received extensive attention.However,compared with cognitive training alone,it is still unclear whether open table tennis combined cognitive training can improve executive function and neural mechanism of college students more effectively.In this study,near infrared brain imaging(f NIRS)technology was used to investigate the effects of 8-week table tennis combined cognitive training and simple cognitive training on executive function of college students and their neural mechanisms,in order to explore whether table tennis combined cognitive training is better than simple cognitive training in improving executive function,and to provide scientific intervention programs for improving executive function of college students.Methods:In this study,30college students were randomly assigned to table tennis combined cognitive training group(n=15 students)and computer single cognitive training group(n=15 students).Both groups were trained for 45 minutes twice a week for 8 weeks.All college students performed 2-back,Stroop and Switching tasks before and after the training to test the inhibition,refresh and switching sub-functions,respectively.Near infrared brain imaging(f NIRS)was used to monitor the activation of prefrontal cortex brain regions during the cognitive tasks.The dependent variables were the correct rate and response time of cognitive tasks,and the corresponding prefrontal cortex oxygen and hemoglobin(Oxy-Hb).The above indexes were used as dependent variables for data statistics.2(group:table tennis combined cognitive training group,computer simple cognitive training group)×2(measurement order:pre-test,post-test)repeated measurement analysis of variance was performed.Results:(1)Behavioral data showed that:In 2-back task,when the dependent variable was correct rate,the main effect of measurement order was significant(F(1,28)=11.037,p=0.002,partialη~2=0.283).The results showed that the table tennis combined cognitive training group had significant improvement before and after measurement.(p=0.007)There was a significant edge in the computer single cognitive training group(p=0.083).The interaction between order and group was significant(F(1,28)=10.579,p=0.003,partialη~2=0.274).Further simple effect test results showed that the posttest of table tennis combined cognitive training group was significantly better than that of the pretest(p=0.003).There was no significant difference between the posttest and the pretest of computer single cognitive training group(p=0.188).It shows that both kinds of training may improve refresh function.In Stroop task,the main effect was significant(F(1,28)=6.973,p=0.013,partialη~2=0.199).The results showed that the two groups were better than the pre-test(p=0.013).In the index of inconsistent conditioned response time,the main effect of measurement order was significant(F(1,28)=8.626,p=0.007,partialη~2=0.236).The results showed that the table tennis combined cognitive training group had a significant edge in the pre and post tests(p=0.090),and the computer single cognitive training group was better than the pre tests(p=0.023).These results indicate that both kinds of training may improve inhibitory control function.In the Switching task,the interaction between the group of conversion costs and the order of measurement was significant(F(1,28)=9.376,p=0.005,partialη~2=0.251).The results of the simple effect test showed that the posttest of ping-pong combined cognitive training group was significantly better than that of the pretest(p=0.001),and there was no significant difference between the posttest and the pretest of the computer single cognitive training group(p=0.715).There was no significant interaction between group and measurement order under conversion and non-conversion conditions(p>0.05).The results showed that the combined cognitive training of table tennis significantly improved the conversion function.(2)f NIRS data results show that:In the 2-back task,in the right ventrolateral prefrontal lobe,the interaction between measurement order and group was significant(F(1,29)=5.419,p=0.027,biasη~2=0.157).Further simple effect tests showed that,The Oxy-Hb concentration signal of the table tennis combined cognitive training group was significantly higher than that of the pre-test(p=0.006).There was no significant difference between the pre-test and the computer-only cognitive training group(p=0.977).The Stroop task results show:In the right frontal polar region,the interaction between order and group was significant(F(1,28)=5.325,p=0.029,partialη~2=0.160).Further simple effect tests showed that,The Oxy-Hb concentration in the table tennis combined cognitive training group was significantly higher than that in the pre-test(p=0.015),but there was no significant difference between the pre-test and the computer-only cognitive training group(p=0.508).The Switching result shows:In the mesolaterolateral prefrontal lobe,the interaction between the order of measurement and the group was significant(F(1,28)=4.412,p=0.045,partialη~2=0.136).Further simple effect test results showed that the posttest of table tennis combined cognitive training group was better than that of the pretest group(p=0.023).There was no significant difference between the two groups(p=0.582).These results suggest that the combination of table tennis and cognitive training can significantly enhance the activation level of Oxy-Hb in the prefrontal lobe.Conclusion:This study found that the executive function advantage of the table tennis combined cognitive training group compared with the computer only cognitive training group lies in the response time of refresh function and conversion function.However,compared with the computer only cognitive training group,the Oxy-Hb activation level of the three tasks in the table tennis combined cognitive training group was significantly enhanced.This proves that the ping-pong combined cognitive training group is more beneficial to improve the executive function of college students than the computer only cognitive training group.This study provides new experimental evidence for improving executive function of college students with table tennis combined cognitive training group.