ABSTRACT
Although a good deal of research has focused on the effects of physical exercise on the performance of various cognitive tasks, there is little agreement as to whether the effects are beneficial or detrimental to cognitive performance (Tomporowski and Ellis, 1986). One problem for the interpretation of many studies is that cognitive task performance is often assessed following exercise when metabolic rates are unsteady. Although the results are not unequivocal even when the tasks are carried out during exercise, there are some indications of an inverted ‘U’ relationship between exercise and performance, with performance peaking at moderate work intensities (Reilly and Smith, 1986). Various theories have been proposed that link arousal, effort and performance, but few studies have actually attempted to assess changes in mental effort investment during physical exercise.
