In the experiment, 121 healthy adults aged 18 to 50 participated. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: one group engaged in strength exercises such as bench press, rowing, leg press, and others, performing two sets of 10 repetitions with a load of 65–75% of their maximum. The second group simply watched a video demonstrating the same exercises.
Upon completion of the workout, the first group showed improvement in tasks measuring reaction inhibition and in working memory tests, while their accuracy remained high. At the neurophysiological level, this was reflected in a decrease in the latency of the P3 component, which is an indicator of the speed of cognitive processing — the brain switched to task performance more quickly compared to its state before the workout.
Physiological changes were also recorded: levels of lactate and systolic blood pressure increased immediately after the workout. The researchers noted that the temporary increase in blood pressure may partially explain the acceleration of reaction times, which is related to an overall increase in arousal levels and redistribution of attention.
It is important to note that the effect was observed immediately after the workout, and questions about the duration of its effects and the impact of strength training on individuals with chronic conditions remain open.
