The Effect of Exercise Intensity Level on Auditory Response Time

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of different exercise intensity levels on participants’ auditory reaction times. 24 undergraduate students (mean age = 21.6 years; 58% male, 42% female) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups in order to test the effects of exercise intensity on auditory reaction time. The first group served as a control and remained sedentary for 15 minutes, while the other 2 groups exercised on a stationary exercise bike for 15 minutes within target heart rate ranges for moderate intensity (100-140 bpm) or high intensity (140-170 bpm). Heart rate, blood pressure, and auditory reaction time was measured pre- and post-exercise for each participant. Auditory response time decreased significantly for individuals in the high intensity exercise group and approached levels of significance for individuals in the moderate intensity exercise group.