Physical Activity, Physiological, and Psychomotor Performance: A Study of Variously Active Older Adult Men

Christensen, Carol L., Payne, V. Gregory, Wughalter, Emily H., Yan, Jin H., Henehan, Michael, Jones, Robert, Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport

This research examined varying levels of physical activity and psychomotor and physiological function in variously active older men. Very active, moderately active, and low active participants were tested on simple (SRT) and choice reaction time (CRT), coincidence-anticipation timing (CAT), and [VO.sub.2]max. No significant differences for age or height were found, although percentage of fat, and weight were statistically different. Active groups were leaner and lighter. [VO.sub.2]max was significantly different between groups, as physically active groups yielded greater values. SRT and CAT also yielded significantly different results with more active participants showing better performance. No between-groups significant differences resulted for CRT. Generally, increased levels of physical activity were related to superior physiological outcomes and improved psychomotor performance.

Key words: age, coincidence-anticipation timing, reaction time, [VO.sub.2]max

**********

Research over the past 100 years has determined that behavioral slowing is a characteristic of increasing age through adulthood (Birren & Fisher, 1995). These declines are so prevalent they have been described as "profound" (Spirduso, 1995, p. 185.) or "...the most robust phenomenon seen in research on aging" (Birren & Fisher, 1991, p.1). The topic has created considerable interest among the research community, as the behavioral slowing appears to limit related components such as fluid intelligence and the precognitive capacity for attention (Birren & Fisher, 1991) in addition to the direct impact on successfully completing daily living activities.

Considerable research has indicated that this slowing may be a function of both general (e.g., deterioration to the central nervous system, Walker, Philbin, & Fisk, 1997) and specific factors (e.g., movement planning or execution, Yan, Thomas, & Stelmach, 1998). Historically, some the most frequently cited specific decrements leading to the slowing include changes in neurotransmitter levels (Bortz et al., 1981; Fraioli et al., 1980; Wood, Stotland, Richard, & Rackham, 1980), declines in neural conduction velocity (Downie & Newell, 1961; Gilliatt, Goodman, & Willison, 1961; LaFratta & Canestrari, 1966; LaFratta & Smith, 1964; Mayer, 1963), or information processing speed (Salthouse, 2000). However, the relative contributions of general and specific factors are often overlooked in lieu of the more common all-or-none approach. In fact, recent methods partitioning age-related variance have indicated that large portions of the declines in behavioral slowing are shared with age-related effects of other variables (S althouse, 2000).

This raises interesting clinical questions about the causes of behavioral slowing and how it might be ameliorated. Cause has been attributed to such factors as life style, disease, occupation, educational level, ethnicity, and physiological capacity (Birren & Fisher, 1995). Understanding the relationship of factors such as health, exercise, or physical activity to the typical age-related declines in psychomotor speed is important. Considerable evidence shows that health and physical activity may be associated with age-related slowing (Birren & Fisher, 1995). For example, Earles and Salthouse (1995) studied participants between the ages of 18 and 87 years of age in relationship to self-rated health, sensory-motor speed, perceptual speed, and reaction time. Age was found to relate directly to all forms of speed examined, with self-reported health only partially mediating the slowing with age. Similarly, Era, Berg, and Schroll (1995) studied 75-year-old Nordic men and women by examining simple reaction time, mul tichoice reaction time, and movement time. More fit participants exhibited greater psychomotor speed. Baylor and Spirduso (1988) specifically studied older women who differed in their quantity of regular aerobic exercise. The older women who were more physically active exhibited superior simple and discriminatory reaction time as well as premotor time, contractile time, and speed of movement.

More recently, Bunce (2001) studied younger and older men from various fitness levels to determine the relationship of health-related fitness to three increasingly complex serial choice reaction time tests. As expected, the older participants generally underperformed their younger counterparts, but older, more highly fit participants yielded superior performance to those of a similar age with reduced health-related fitness. The author concluded that this implied a strong relationship between health-related fitness and psychomotor speed; thus, a physically active lifestyle should be encouraged among the adult population. Other recent studies have found similar results (Bunce, Barrowclough, & Morris, 1996; Bunce, Wan; & Cochrane, 1993; Li, McColgin, & Van Oteghen, 1998; Simonen, Videman, Battle, & Gibbons, 1998a).

Why this relationship exists is unclear. Perhaps older participants who have maintained a physically active lifestyle yield a healthier cardiovascular system. Research also suggests that increased physical activity specifically allays the decrements in speed of sensory input and motor output during simple and choice discriminations (Spirduso, MacRae, MacRae, Prewitt, & Osborne, 1988). Still others have posited that the explanation may be as simple as the more active participants possessing more powerful muscles, rather than any change in the central nervous system (Spirduso, 1995).

Another phenomenon that may …

Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information: Article title: Physical Activity, Physiological, and Psychomotor Performance: A Study of Variously Active Older Adult Men. Contributors: Christensen, Carol L. - Author, Payne, V. Gregory - Author, Wughalter, Emily H. - Author, Yan, Jin H. - Author, Henehan, Michael - Author, Jones, Robert - Author. Journal title: Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport. Volume: 74. Issue: 2 Publication date: June 2003. Page number: 136+. © 1999 American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group.

This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.