AN EXAMINATION OF POTENTIAL NEURAL DIFFERENCES IN EXERCISERS AND NON-EXERCISERS: AN EEG STUDY

Abstract

Within the United States, obesity rates continually increased from 1999 to 2016 (CDC, 2017). This is particularly concerning due to the fact that the American government has put out abundant amounts of information on these increasing obesity rates and encouraged Americans to change their lifestyles in order to combat this epidemic. Despite these efforts, the rates of obesity have continued to increase. Because obesity is associated with heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancers, the prevalence of obesity is concerning (CDC, 2018). One of the most influential factors in becoming obese is a lack of physical activity (ACSM, 2018). The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) lists risk factors for Cardiovascular Disease and lists physical inactivity as the single most preventable risk factor (2018). This leads to the issue of the general public knowing they should be participating in physical activity on a daily basis yet continue to not meet guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control or ACSM. It is not known whether there is a neurobiological predisposition that makes exercise adherence or avoidance more likely. This study aims to examine the potential neural differences between physical active and inactive individuals in their perception of their own group and the opposite group. Electroencephalography (EEG) will be used to record patterns of brain activation as active and inactive individuals view images of people engaged in physical activity and sedentary behavior. This brain activation will then be compared across groups in response to the different stimuli. The results of this study may allow for more successful promotion of physical activity and for an increased understanding of neural activity in exercisers and non-exercisers through the lens of perception.