This study aimed to examine the effects of an acute bout of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on attention in young adults during a real-world attention task. Attention is an important cognitive function that is necessary for learning, academic performance, and completing everyday tasks. Previous research has shown that physical activity and aerobic exercise can positively influence cognitive functioning, including attention, executive function, and information processing. However, much of the existing research has focused on children, adolescents, and older adults, or on laboratory-based cognitive tasks, with less attention given to young adults in real-world settings. Twenty-two young adults between the ages of 18 and 26 participated in this study. A within-subjects randomized crossover design was used in which participants completed both a moderate-intensity cycling condition and an active control condition involving static stretching. During both conditions, participants watched a 15-minute video while their attention was measured through behavioral observation, a post-video recall questionnaire, and a perceived attention rating. The results showed that participants scored significantly higher on the recall quiz (p = .028) and reported greater self-perceived attention (p = .047) after the static stretching condition compared to the aerobic exercise condition. However, no significant differences were found in observed behavioral attention between the two conditions (p = .256). These findings suggest that the effects of acute exercise on attention may depend on both the type of exercise and the way attention is measured. Additional research is needed to better understand how different types of exercise influence attention during real-world learning tasks.

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amber Shipherd

Department of Health and Kinesiology