Johannes Michalak1, Katharina Rohde2, Nikolaus F Troje3. 1. Witten Herdecke University, Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy, Alfred-Herrhausen-Straße 50, D-58448 Witten, Germany; University of Hildesheim, Institute of Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, Marienburger Platz 22, D-31131 Hildesheim, Germany. Electronic address: johannes.michalak@uni-wh.de. 2. University of Hildesheim, Institute of Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, Marienburger Platz 22, D-31131 Hildesheim, Germany. 3. Queen's University Kingston, Department of Psychology, Biomotion Lab, 62 Arch Street, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS: Several studies have shown that physical exercise such as walking has effects on depression. These studies have focused on increasing intensity and amount of physical activity. In the present study, we investigated whether not only the intensity but also the style of physical activity affects depression related processes. METHOD: Using an unobtrusive biofeedback technique, we manipulated participants (39 undergraduates) to change their walking patterns to either reflect the characteristics of depressed patients or a particularly happy walking style. The intensity of walking (i.e. walking speed) was held constant across condition. During walking, participants first encoded and later recalled a series of emotionally loaded terms. RESULTS: The difference between recalled positive and recalled negative words was much lower in participants who adopted a depressed walking style as compared to participants who walked as if they were happy. LIMITATIONS: The effects of gait manipulation were investigated in a non-clinical group of undergraduates. CONCLUSIONS: The observed change in memory bias supports the idea that beyond the intensity of walking the style of walking has effects on the vulnerability to depression.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS: Several studies have shown that physical exercise such as walking has effects on depression. These studies have focused on increasing intensity and amount of physical activity. In the present study, we investigated whether not only the intensity but also the style of physical activity affects depression related processes. METHOD: Using an unobtrusive biofeedback technique, we manipulated participants (39 undergraduates) to change their walking patterns to either reflect the characteristics of depressedpatients or a particularly happy walking style. The intensity of walking (i.e. walking speed) was held constant across condition. During walking, participants first encoded and later recalled a series of emotionally loaded terms. RESULTS: The difference between recalled positive and recalled negative words was much lower in participants who adopted a depressed walking style as compared to participants who walked as if they were happy. LIMITATIONS: The effects of gait manipulation were investigated in a non-clinical group of undergraduates. CONCLUSIONS: The observed change in memory bias supports the idea that beyond the intensity of walking the style of walking has effects on the vulnerability to depression.
Authors: Ana Paula Quixadá; Jose G V Miranda; Kamila Osypiuk; Paolo Bonato; Gloria Vergara-Diaz; Jennifer A Ligibel; Wolf Mehling; Evan T Thompson; Peter M Wayne Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2022-02-21
Authors: Sabine C Koch; Katja Mergheim; Judith Raeke; Clarissa B Machado; Eliane Riegner; Joachim Nolden; Gudrun Diermayr; Dorothee von Moreau; Thomas K Hillecke Journal: Front Neurosci Date: 2016-07-07 Impact factor: 4.677