Simulating Nature?! The Impact of Indoor Exercising on Cognitive and Affective Functioning: A Randomized Crossover Trial

Abstract

The present investigation focused on assessing cognitive and affective effects of indoor exercising while exposing the participants to a video simulation of nature (simulated nature), compared to the typical indoor exercising (control condition). Participants (N = 21, physically active amateur cyclists) completed an incremental effort test to establish their aerobic power. Next, they cycled for 55 minutes under one of two randomized conditions using a within-subjects design: simulated nature, involving the presentation of an outdoor soundscape video, versus the control condition, representing the indoor cycling condition. At the end of each cycling session, conducted 3-7 days apart, participants completed a set of psychological assessments focused on their cognitive functions, including executive attention, vigilance, working memory, as well as and affective functioning, encompassing anxiety, depression, negative and positive affect. The results suggest that exercising in simulated natural environment conditions has little significant cognitive and or affective benefits after controlling for physical effort.