NSG Group Niigata University of Health and Welfare/University of Tsukuba Discovery that exercise using virtual reality environment (VR) improves mood and executive functions!

[NSG Group] [Niigata University of Health and Welfare/University of Tsukuba] Discovery that exercise using a virtual reality environment (VR) improves mood and executive function! ​
NSG Group Press release: October 18, 2024 [Niigata University of Health and Welfare/University of Tsukuba] It has been discovered that exercise using a virtual reality environment (VR) improves mood and executive function!
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/32951/1508/32951-1508-685249538aff57a9605eacc70dea9a75-889×495.jpg

Left) Genta Ochi Lecturer Right) Ken Ohno Lecturer The NSG group’s research group, including Lecturer Genta Ochi of the Department of Health and Sports at Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Lecturer Takeshi Ohno of the Department of Medical Radiology at Niigata University of Health and Welfare, and Assistant Professor Ryuta Kuwamizu of the Department of Physical Education at the University of Tsukuba, is using a virtual reality environment (VR). We found that the combination of exercise and cycling improved executive function and mood more than cycling alone, and that heightened mood during exercise was associated with the effect of improving executive function. This study was published on October 15, 2024 in the International Journal of Physical Activity and Mental Health. Mental Health and Physical Activity ” was published. ■Research overview Exercising using a virtual reality environment (VR) has been attracting attention as a contributing factor to making exercise a habit due to its mood-improving effect, but its effect on brain function is not yet clear. Therefore, this time, we aimed to elucidate how VR exercise affects working memory, an important executive function, and further elucidate its neural mechanisms. In this study, 23 healthy university students participated in exercise in a VR environment and were evaluated using psychological and cognitive evaluations as well as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The results confirmed that a 10-minute VR exercise session improved energetic mood and performance on a working memory task (3-back task) more than exercise or rest alone. Furthermore, it was shown that the improved mood of vigor due to VR exercise was associated with improved performance on the 3-back task. However, the specific brain regions contributing to improved performance could not be identified. By increasing positive mood, VR exercise can be an optimal exercise program to improve working memory function. ◆Research points ・The combination of VR and exercise improves mood, but the effect on executive function was unknown until now. ・This study revealed that the combination of VR and exercise improves both mood and executive function. ・Furthermore, it was shown that the higher the improvement in lively mood during VR exercise, the higher the executive function. ・The impact on mood during exercise is important for exercise programs that improve executive function, and it has been suggested that VR can be a new exercise program that improves executive function by effectively increasing mood. ◆Research methods and results In this study, we examined the effects of a combination of VR and exercise (Figure 1A) on executive function and mood in 23 healthy adults, and compared them with exercise alone and resting conditions. All research subjects were given 10 minutes of rest, bicycle exercise, VR and bicycle exercise, and psychological scales and the N-Back task (an index of executive function; Figure 1B) were measured before and after. The N-Back task consists of three difficulty levels: 0-, 1-, and 3-Back, and was measured while observing brain activity in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine. As a result, the positive mood (liveliness and excitement) was higher under the VR bicycle exercise condition than under the other conditions. No difference was observed between conditions in the less difficult 0- and 1-Back tasks, but in the most difficult 3-Back task, there was a significant difference after exercise in the VR bicycle exercise condition compared to other conditions. Improvements in task performance were seen (Figure 2). In addition, we found that executive function increased as energetic mood increased. This time, our analysis using fMRI did not lead to the identification of the neural mechanism by which VR bicycle exercise improves executive functions and mood. It has been suggested that there are environmental factors that make this possible.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/32951/1508/32951-1508-6c5907fb613c22ae188ffdb3ae7dee55-1394×623.jpg Figure 1. Image of performing VR bicycle exercise and N-Back task (A) When you ride a bicycle, the surrounding scenery also moves, making you feel like you are moving through virtual space. (B) Example of N-Back task. They are presented one by one in the order of (a), (b), (c), and (d), and asked to judge whether the color of the Nth previous shape is the same as the color of the currently presented shape. In this example, in the 3-Back trial, when (d) is presented, it is the same color as the three previous (a), so the subject is instructed to press the button.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/32951/1508/32951-1508-e78d6bbdaae381a89832fa2b8b1c6eaf-277×244.png Figure 2. Main results obtained in this study Changes in reaction time before and after exercise and rest in the 3-Back task, which is an index of executive function. Shorter reaction times indicate higher executive function. Under the VR exercise condition, reaction time was significantly shortened before and after exercise, and executive function improved compared to the rest/exercise condition. ​ ◆Research grants This research was supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology/Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Scientific Research Grants (JP22K17739, JP23K14904, JP19H01090, JP20K20621, JP21H03310) and Niigata University of Health and Welfare Joint Usage Joint Research Fund. ◆Original paper information Paper title: Exercising with virtual reality is
potentially better for the working memory and positive mood than cycling alone Author: *§Genta Ochi1,5, *Ken Ohno2, Ryuta Kuwamizu3, Yukiya Yamashiro1,5, Tomomi Fujimoto1,5, Koyuki Igarashi1,5, Naoki Kodama2, Hideaki Onishi4, Daisuke Sato 1,5 (* :First author, §:Corresponding author) Magazine published: Mental Health and Physical Activity DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2024.100641 ◆Research inquiries Genta Ochi, Department of Health and Sports, Faculty of Health Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare Tel: 025-257-4595 E-mail: ochi@nuhw.ac.jp Homepage:
https://ochi-lab.wraptas.site/ Niigata University of Health and Welfare Faculty of Medical Technology Department of Radiology Ken Ohno Tel: 025-257-4708 E-mail: ken-ohno@nuhw.ac.jp [Niigata University of Health and Welfare] https://www.nuhw.ac.jp/ It is one of the few comprehensive medical universities in the country with 6 faculties and 15 departments where you can study nursing, medical care,
rehabilitation, nutrition, sports, welfare, and medical IT. By taking full advantage of the benefits of being a comprehensive medical university, our university allows you to learn practically the “team medicine” that is needed in the medical field. In addition, we have established a university-wide systematic support system for obtaining qualifications and employment, and have achieved one of the highest national exam pass rates in the nation and a high employment record. Furthermore, by taking advantage of the unique environment of our university, which has a sports-related department, we are developing learning that integrates sports, such as “sports” and “medical care,” “rehabilitation,” and “nutrition.” The NSG Group has a wide range of businesses, including education, medical, welfare, and nursing care, as well as health, sports, construction, real estate, food,
agriculture, trading companies, advertising agencies, ICT, hotels, apparel, beauty, human resources services, and entertainment. This is a corporate group consisting of 108 companies that operate businesses. Aiming to make each region the “richest and happiest city in the world,” we work from a private perspective to create businesses that revitalize the region, with the keywords of “people,” “peace of mind,” “work,” and “attractiveness.” I’m here. ​ https://www.nsg.gr.jp/