Can placebo and nocebo affect post‐exercise executive function?

Abstract

This study examined the placebo and nocebo effects of conditioning and induced expectations on executive function after acute aerobic exercise. The results showed that the benefits of exercise on executive function were influenced by both conditioning and induced expectations. Further, positive conditioning or expectations enhanced cognitive benefits, negative conditioning or expectations reduced cognitive benefits, but induced expectations on executive function were not moderated by conditioning. This study revealed and quantitively estimated the placebo and nocebo effects in improving executive function after acute aerobic exercise, providing evidence to advance the understanding of the cognitive benefits of exercise.