Enhancing Cognitive Processing Speed Through Two-Handed Sword Training in Thai Healthy University Students: A Pre-Experimental Study

Abstract

Introduction: Cognitive skills are one of the significant functions of being a healthy person. There are several approaches to improving human cognitive skills, including regular exercise. This pre-experimental research aimed to compare the two-handed sword training program on cognitive processing speed in healthy colleague students before training, during the 4th week, and after the 8th week of training. Methods: Thirty-four healthy students (25 males and nine females) were chosen through systematic random sampling. The sample group performed a two-handed sword training program for eight weeks, three days a week. During the experiment, the researchers assessed the level of perceived exertion and took heart rate measurements after every training session. Data were collected by the simple reaction time test, which was employed to evaluate cognitive processing speed measured before, after four weeks, and after eight weeks by a computerized cognitive test battery. The descriptive statistics were analyzed by percentage, mean, and standard deviation. The inferential statistics were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance with repeated measures and the Friedman test. The significance level was set at 0.05.

Results: The comparison of cognitive processing speed before training and after the 8th week, specifically the response time in the choice reaction time test, showed a statistically significant decrease. The choice reaction time test also showed a statistically significant decrease in response time and accuracy rate when comparing the 4th and 8th weeks. The variation in cognitive processing speed after eight weeks of training showed a statistically significant difference in response time in the simple reaction time test. The choice reaction time test also showed a statistically significant difference in response time and accuracy rate. Conclusion: The two-handed sword training improved cognitive processing speed, particularly in reaction time tests, but had no significant impact on other cognitive abilities, emphasizing the role of motor-based training in reaction-based decision-making.