Contrary to popular belief, riding a bike and playing brain-stimulating games at the same time improves physical performance.
Doing two things at once, the best way to miss it all? Nothing is less sure. Researchers at the University of Florida have shown that, on the contrary, multitasking activities are excellent for health, and in particular for that of seniors.
Bike and Memento
In this little study, the results of which were published in the journal Plos One, 20 healthy elderly people participated in an activity that may seem complex. They performed brain stimulation games (memory, speed, association exercises, etc.), while pedaling on an exercise bike. To ensure the safety of participants, 72 years old on average, the results were issued orally.
However, against all expectations, it appeared that when the games are of an easy level, the participants tend to accelerate their movements on the bike. In short, their body is more efficient when their mind is focused on the games! On average, pedaling speed is increased by 25% when performing cognitive tasks. On the other hand, this speed is reduced when the level of the games increases, to reach a pedaling speed similar to that observed in the absence of games.
For the researchers, these results contradict frequently noted observations that doing two tasks at the same time reduces the speed of execution of both. According to them, this study could guide strategies for playing sports or physical activity effectively.
Unaffected Parkinson’s patients
The experiment was also carried out on 28 patients with Parkinson’s, with less conclusive results, since the patients generally pedaled less quickly. According to the researchers, the speed observed in healthy subjects is related to the dopamine released during cognitive exercises. However, this function is altered in Parkinson’s patients.
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