Researchers from the University of Kassel in Germany have identified a simple physical routine that boosts both muscle performance and mental skills. The study, published in a scientific journal focused on cognitive development, examined how a basic squat performed on different surfaces influences thinking tasks.
The research team concentrated on squats executed on an unstable base. While these movements target the quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes, they also demand steady attention and balance from the participant. The exercise thus blends physical effort with cognitive control, creating a dual challenge for the body and mind.
The experiment included 57 older adults, aged between 60 and 70, and 17 younger participants, roughly 20 years old. Each group underwent screening to ensure that taking part would not pose any health risks before the tests began.
In the first test, participants performed standard dumbbell squats while completing the Stroop task. This cognitive exercise requires naming the color of the font of a displayed word while ignoring the word itself, which can create a perceptual conflict for example when the word red appears in blue lettering.
In the second part of the study, participants repeated the Stroop test while squatting on unstable surfaces. The results showed a decline in Stroop task performance of about 9 percent when squats were done on a stable surface and about 14 percent when squats were performed on an unstable base.
Researchers concluded that squatting, especially with an emphasis on balance, seems to heighten concentration, which in turn can influence cognitive performance. The finding suggests a link between postural control during exercise and the brain’s information processing under dual-task conditions.
Earlier work in the field highlighted that short, simple movements can influence brain function soon after periods of sedentary activity.