The effect of physical fatigue on short-term memory

The purpose of the study is to examine the acute effect of physical fatigue on short-term memory. 25 university students in total, as being 6 females (with an average age of 21,57 +/- 1,59) and 10 males (with an average age of 21,72 +/- 1,48), had participated voluntarily in the study. Following collection of rested heart rates (HR) of all the participants, Numerical String Learning Test (NSLT) and then an exercise with 90% load on treadmill had been applied 5 minutes later. Right after the applied exercise, NSLT had been applied for the second time, and the results of both test scores had been compared. As per the results of statistical analysis performed, a statistically significant difference had been determined in between the NSLT scores of all the group (p<0,05) prior to (17,48 +/- 3,79) and after (14,88 +/- 5,5) fatigue. According to these results, it can be said that physical fatigue generating as the result of running exercise performed at maximal intensity has negative effect on short-term memory. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.