Phillip D. Tomporowski

The immediate effects of strenuous exercise on free-recall memory

A free-recall memory task was used to assess the after-effects of strenuous exercise on the cognitive functioning of young adults. In a first study, 24 college-age subjects performed tests of memory immediately following a treadmill run to voluntary exhaustion. The number of words recalled following exercise did not differ from the number of words recalled by 24 subjects in a non-exercise control group. Further, there were no differences in the serial position effect between the two groups. In a second study, 12 highly fit subjects were compared with 12 subjects of average fitness. No differences were found.

Effects of exercise on the physical fitness, intelligence, and adaptive behavior of institutionalized mentally retarded adults*

The effects of a seven-month aerobic-type exercise program on physical fitness and intelligence of institutionalized adult mentally retarded persons were evaluated. Sixty-five subjects, matched on IQ, CA, and sex, were assigned randomly to exercise (PF), attention control (AC), and nonintervention control (C) groups. PF and AC groups participated in 139 training sessions, three hours per day, five days per week. The exercise consisted of running/jogging, calisthenics, and circuit training; those in the AC groups received a special education program; the C group continued their normal institutional training programs. Cardiovascular efficiency improved in the PF group. IQ and adaptive behavior did not improve as a result of any treatment. Even though standardized tests reflected little change in adaptive behavior of participants, subjective reports suggest PF training may serve as an effective habilitation program for many institutionalized mentally retarded adults.

The effects of exercise on the health, intelligence, and adaptive behavior of institutionalized severely and profoundly mentally retarded adults: A systematic replication

Institutionalized severely and profoundly mentally retarded adults participated in a 7-month program of rigorous aerobic-type exercises. The effects of the treatment on the physical fitness, intelligence, and behavior of subjects were assessed. Fifty men and women were matched in pairs based on IQ, CA, and sex and assigned randomly to an experimental (E) or control (C) group. Those in the E group met 3 hours per day, 5 days per week and received a treatment that consisted of an exercise program that included jogging, running, dance-aerobics, and circuit training. The C group continued their normal institutional training programs. The treatment produced significant improvement in the cardiovascular efficiency of subjects; however, no changes in intelligence or adaptive behavior were obtained. Although standardized tests reflected little improvement in psychological or behavioral variables due to treatment, subjective reports suggest that exercise training may serve as a more practical habilitation program for severely and profoundly mentally retarded individuals than those typically employed in institutional settings.

Sustained Attention and Intelligence.

Abstract The sustained attention of retarded and nonretarded adults was assessed during two 60-min vigilance tests that differed in memory demand. Subjects compared visually presented digit sets that were separated by 3 or 6 s; consecutive matching digit sets served as the target event. A significant interaction between IQ and time period was obtained for target detection and detectability, p( A ) , measures; the performance of retarded subjects declined more rapidly during the latter stages of the vigil than did the performance of nonretarded subjects. Memory load had no effect on target detection, but the 6-s delay resulted in a significant increase in false alarm rate by both IQ groups. Intelligence-related differences in sustained attention appear to be related to the availability of attentional resources during a vigilance task.

Training an autistic client: The effect of brief restraint on disruptive behavior

A profoundly retarded autistic client who was making no progress in self-help skill training sessions exhibited disruptive behaviors which were incompatible with training goals. These behaviors included withdrawal, self-stimulation and mascular rigidity. Following baseline measurement of the effectiveness of standard behavior-shaping techniques, brief restraint was implemented to decelerate the disruptive behaviors. During treatment conditions a two-trainer procedure was employed. All task-oriented behavior was followed by positive reinforcement. The disruptive behaviors of the client decreased following the introduction of the restraint procedure. As the disruptive behaviors were reduced, progress in a self-help training program was evidenced. Following a fading procedure a single trainer could control the behavior of the client via positive reinforcement alone.

Relationship between physical fitness, age, and attentional capacity

This study investigated the relationships between physical fitness, cognitive performance, and age. Sixty adults, ranging in age from 18 to 90 years, participated in the study. Physical fitness was...