Publication Date

2025

Advisor(s) - Committee Chair

Whitley Stone, Danilo Tolusso, Kaylee Woodard, Silvio Polly da Costa Valladao

Degree Program

Department of Kinesiology, Recreation and Sport

Degree Type

Master of Science

Abstract

Several physiological mechanisms elicited by exercise have been shown to enhance the encoding of newly learned motor skills. Cold water immersion (CWI) of at least 14°C (57.2°F), a common recovery tactic following exercise, can elicit the upregulation of similar mechanisms (lactate, norepinephrine, and epinephrine). However, little research has explored a relationship between CWI and motor learning. Therefore, the primary purpose of this investigation was to determine the impact of moderate-duration head-out CWI (HCWI) on motor learning measured via Esports tracking task (ETT) and to compare the results to an exercise (EXS) and control (CON) group. Twenty-nine, right-handed, apparently healthy adults from Western Kentucky University volunteered for this investigation. Participants underwent a retention test 24 hours (ETT24) after acquisition (ETTAQ). Mean ETT scores were analyzed using a three (group) by two (timepoint) mixed ANOVA. The ANOVA detected a significant effect of time (F(1,26) = 11.02, p = .003, η² = .298) but not for group (F(2,26) = 0.40, p = .672, η² = .030) or group by time interaction (F(2,26) = 1.64, p = .214, η² = .112). The results of this investigation failed to detect a positive impact of HCWI or EXS on motor learning when compared to the CON group. Our findings contradict previous research demonstrating improvements in motor learning following exercise. In conclusion, ETT performance changed due to the passage of time and not the attended intervention, suggesting that the potential mechanisms explored for this investigation may be less influential on motor MC than previously suggested.

Disciplines

Kinesiology | Life Sciences

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