Abstract:Objective To explore the effects of single-session table tennis exercise with different intensities on working memory and the associated cognitive neural processing mechanisms in college students with depressive symptoms by using event-related potential (ERP) technology. Methods A convenience sampling approach was employed to recruit 100 college students with depressive symptoms from a university. Participants were randomly assigned at a 1∶1 ∶1 ∶1 ratio to low-intensity exercise group, moderate-intensity exercise group, high-intensity exercise group, or control group. The exercise groups participated in a single 30-min table tennis intervention at intensities corresponding to 57%-64% of maximum heart rate (HRmax) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) scores ranging from 9-11, 65%-75% HRmax and RPE scores 12-13, and 76%-95% HRmax and RPE scores of 14-17 (5-min warm-up, 20-min monitored exercise, 5-min cool-down). The control group did not receive any exercise intervention. Pre- and post-intervention assessments of verbal working memory (VWM) and spatial working memory (SWM) were performed, alongside the recording of ERP components, including the amplitude and latency of N2 and P3, during the tasks. Results A total of 91 participants (20 in the low-intensity exercise group, 25 in the moderate-intensity exercise group, 23 in the high-intensity exercise group, and 23 in the control group) were enrolled for analysis. In the VWM task, the main effect of time on accuracy was found to be significant (F(1,89)＝5.942, P＝0.017, partial η2＝0.064). Post-intervention, accuracy was significantly improved in the moderate-intensity and high-intensity exercise groups (change＝0.027, 95% confidence interval ［CI］ 0.001-0.053, P＝0.037; change＝0.029, 95% CI 0.002-0.055, P＝0.040). The main effect of time on reaction time was also significant (F(1,89)＝7.244, P＝0.009, partial η2＝0.077). The interaction between group and time was also significant (F(3,87)＝2.844, P＝0.042, partial η2＝0.089). After the intervention, the reaction time was reduced in the low-intensity and moderate-intensity exercise groups (change＝－0.095, 95% CI －0.183-－0.007, P＝0.035; change＝ －0.079, 95% CI －0.158-0, P＝0.049). The interaction between time and electrode location in the P3 latency in ERP components was significant (F(3,87)＝5.785, P＜0.001, partial η2＝0.062), while the interactions for other ERP measures were not significant (all P＞0.05). In the SWM task, the main effect of time on accuracy was significant (F(1,89)＝5.092, P＝0.027, partial η2＝0.055), while the interaction between group and time was not significant (F(3,87)＝0.799, P＝0.498, partial η2＝0.027). After the intervention, accuracy was improved in the moderate-intensity exercise group (change＝0.019, 95% CI 0-0.037, P＝0.046). The main effect of time on reaction time was significant (F(1,89)＝14.322, P＜0.001, partial η2＝0.141). The interaction between group and time was not significant (F(3,87)＝1.521, P＝0.215, partial η2＝0.050). After the intervention, reaction time was shortened in the moderate-intensity and high-intensity exercise groups (change＝－0.082, 95% CI －0.136-－0.027, P＝0.004; change＝－0.075, 95% CI －0.131-－0.018, P＝0.029). The interaction between time and electrode location in the P3 amplitude in ERP components was significant (F(3,87)＝5.475, P＝0.001, partial η2＝0.059), while the interactions for other ERP measures were not significant (all P＞0.05). Conclusion Single-session table tennis exercise with different intensities has a positive effect on working memory in college students with depressive symptoms. Moderate- to high-intensity exercise can enhance VWM accuracy, while low- to moderate-intensity exercise can reduce VWM reaction time. Furthermore, moderate-intensity exercise can improve SWM accuracy, and moderate- to high-intensity exercise can shorten SWM reaction time. Additionally, high-intensity exercise can lead to greater activation of ERP components.
