%0 Journal Article
%T Effects of running exercises on reaction time and working memory in individuals with intellectual disability.
%A Affes S
%A Borji R
%A Zarrouk N
%A Sahli S
%A Rebai H
%J J Intellect Disabil Res
%V 65
%N 1
%D 01 2021
%M 33164281
%F 3.646
%R 10.1111/jir.12798
%X This study explored the effect of running exercises at low [30% heart rate reserve (HRR)] and moderate (60%HRR) intensities on cognitive performances in individuals with intellectual disability (ID).<BR>Participants performed randomly reaction time (RT) tests: visual RT [simple RT (SRT) and choice RT (CRT)], auditory SRT (ASRT) and working memory (WM) (Corsi test) before and after the exercises.<BR>The results showed that after both exercises, SRT decreased significantly (P < 0.001) in both groups with higher extent (P < 0.05) at 60%HRR compared with 30%HRR. CRT decreased (P < 0.01), similarly, after the both exercises in both groups with higher (P < 0.001) extent in the intellectual disability group (IDG). ASRT decreased significantly, at 30%HRR, in IDG (P < 0.001) and in control group (CG) (P < 0.01) with greater extent in IDG (P < 0.001). At 60%HRR, ASRT decreased significantly in both groups (P < 0.001) with greater extent in IDG (P < 0.001). The ΔASRT% was significantly (P < 0.05) higher at 30%HRR compared with 60%HRR in IDG. In CG, no significant (P = 0.21) difference was reported between intensities. The Corsi forward and the Corsi backward scores increased significantly (P < 0.01) in both groups after both intensities with higher extent in IDG (P < 0.01).<BR>Our results suggest that low and moderate running exercises improve similarly simple and choice visual RT as well as WM in individuals with ID. Furthermore, low-intensity exercise could be more appropriate to enhance ASRT compared the moderate one in these individuals. Therefore, low-intensity exercise seems to be an efficient strategy to improve cognitive performances in individuals with ID.