To run or not to run? Differences in implicit attitudes towards running: An EEG study

To understand the reasons for individuals do or do not exercise, we examined differences in implicit (affective and instrumental) attitudes between runners and non-runners. In conjunction with electroencephalography (EEG) technology, 31 participants completed the affective and instrumental implicit associations test (IAT). Behavioural results showed that runners had more positive implicit (affective and instrumental) attitudes than non-runners. EEG results further explained the underlying mechanisms for the differences, namely that runners had higher cortical functional connectivity in the compatible condition than in the incompatible condition, while non-runners had the opposite results. Higher levels of neural processing efficiency were required for runners to perceive affective expectations towards running. Furthermore, ERP indicators (N1 amplitudes of incompatible tasks) can be used as valid criteria for potentially predicting exercise. This contributed to understanding why individuals do or do not exercise. Further research should focus on the effects of implicit attitudes towards exercise.