Unleashing the full cognitive potential of humans: The relationship between objectively manipulated exercise intensity levels on creativity via affect and physical fitness.

The purpose of this research was to determine if different objectively manipulated exercise intensity levels (i.e., no, low, moderate, and high) were related to different creativity levels. It was expected that moderate intensity was best to increase creativity. Further, it was hypothesized that positive activated affect and affective shift were underlying factors in this relationship. In addition, it was expected that individuals with higher levels of physical fitness reacted with more positive affect to higher exercise intensity which in turn possibly favored their creativity. To test the hypotheses, individuals were randomly assigned to one of the four conditions: no, low, moderate, or high exercise (N = 76). ANOVA and regression analyses were used to analyze the data. A manipulation check revealed that the participants in each condition showed different exercise intensities. This research has shown that the different exercise intensities were not related to different creativity...Show moreThe purpose of this research was to determine if different objectively manipulated exercise intensity levels (i.e., no, low, moderate, and high) were related to different creativity levels. It was expected that moderate intensity was best to increase creativity. Further, it was hypothesized that positive activated affect and affective shift were underlying factors in this relationship. In addition, it was expected that individuals with higher levels of physical fitness reacted with more positive affect to higher exercise intensity which in turn possibly favored their creativity. To test the hypotheses, individuals were randomly assigned to one of the four conditions: no, low, moderate, or high exercise (N = 76). ANOVA and regression analyses were used to analyze the data. A manipulation check revealed that the participants in each condition showed different exercise intensities. This research has shown that the different exercise intensities were not related to different creativity levels. In addition, positive activated affect and affective shift could not explain the relationship between exercise intensity and creativity, and physical fitness did not moderate it. Moderate intensity of exercising, however, led to higher levels of positive affect than low-intensity and no exertion exercising. The research did not find support for the idea that different exercise intensities could predict different creative performance. For future research, it is advised to include other indicators of creativity such as convergent creativity and improve the design of the study by increasing the sample size, enlarging the exercise duration, looking at the retention time and, changing the exercise type.Show less

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Unleashing the full cognitive potential of humans: The relationship between objectively manipulated exercise intensity levels on creativity via affect and physical fitness.