An acute bout of housework activities has beneficial effects on executive function

Figures & data

Figure 1 Experimental environment of the vacuuming task and fNIRS measurements.

Notes: (A) The condition in the HA experiment: there were shredded paper and plastic balls with a diameter of 6 mm on the floor within an area of 2.2×1.8 m. (B) The condition in the control experiment: there were no paper shreds or plastic balls on the floor within the same area of 2.2×1.8 m. (C) fNIRS measurements: the participants placed their chin on the holder in a sitting position and performed the Stroop color–word task. Cortical hemodynamic changes were monitored using fNIRS. Individuals provided written informed consent for the images to be published.
Abbreviations: fNIRS, functional near-infrared spectroscopy; HA, housework activity.

Figure 2 Experimental design.

Notes: (A) Total schedule of HA and control conditions. (B) Presentation of the Stroop color–word task. Examples of the congruent and incongruent conditions of the task are depicted. The words were written in Japanese. The English translations are indicated in parentheses. (C) The experimental paradigm consisted of a two-period block design. The participants were randomly assigned the Type 1 or 2 design to maintain counterbalancing.
Abbreviation: HA, housework activity.

Figure 3 The positions of the fNIRS channels.

Notes: Red shows the frontopolar prefrontal cortex. Blue shows the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Green shows the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex.
Abbreviation: fNIRS, functional near-infrared spectroscopy.

Figure 4 Results of the Stroop color–word task.

Notes: (A) The comparison of the number for total responses between the congruent and incongruent tasks. (B) The comparison of the error rate between the congruent and incongruent tasks. (C) The Stroop interference score for total responses. We subtracted the number for total responses during the congruent condition from those during the incongruent condition. (D) The variation in the Stroop interference score between post- and pre-sessions for total responses. ***p<0.001; **p<0.05.
Abbreviation: HA, housework activity.

Figure 5 Changes of the Stroop interference score for the oxy-Hb signals.

Notes: (A) F-map of oxy-Hb signal change showing the interaction between experiment (HA/control) and session (pre/post) in six ROIs. (B) The Stroop interference score for R-VLPFC oxy-Hb signal. We subtracted the cortical hemodynamic change during the congruent condition from that during the incongruent condition. (C) The variation in the Stroop interference score for R-VLPFC oxy-Hb signal between post- and pre-sessions. F-map represents the F-value which obtained from statistical analysis as the color spectrum attaching brain figure. *p<0.1.
Abbreviations: oxy-Hb, oxygenated hemoglobin; HA, housework activity; ROIs, regions of interest; R-, right; VLPFC, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex; DLPFC, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; FPPFC, frontopolar prefrontal cortex.

Table 1 Effect of the Stroop interference score for oxy-Hb signals in the six ROIs

Outcome variable	Time period				Interaction		Post hoc analysis
	Pre-		Post-
	Mean ± SD	p-value	Mean ± SD	p-value	F	p-value	p-value
R-FPPFC
Control	−0.90±5.87	0.366	1.54±5.85	0.628	1.700	0.205	0.044**
HA	0.13±4.19		0.84±4.63				0.491
L-FPPFC
Control	−0.98±6.23	0.110	2.29±6.99	0.649	2.892	0.102	0.023**
HA	1.17±4.69		1.38±6.84				0.898
R-VLPFC
Control	6.01±8.83	0.039**	1.95±7.23	0.703	3.277	0.083*	0.074*
HA	1.71±7.45		2.80±6.41				0.572
L-VLPFC
Control	3.64±5.68	0.741	2.27±9.46	0.903	0.018	0.895	0.550
HA	3.00±6.76		2.01±4.10				0.577
R-DLPFC
Control	−1.26±7.55	0.309	0.29±5.69	0.564	1.607	0.217	0.355
HA	0.57±5.39		−0.80±6.56				0.425
L-DLPFC
Control	−1.19±9.08	0.481	−0.28±7.74	0.943	0.391	0.537	0.588
HA	0.41±6.91		−0.14±5.56				0.713

Note: Repeated-measures ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc analysis:

* p<0.1 and

** p<0.05.

Abbreviations: oxy-Hb, oxygenated hemoglobin; ROIs, regions of interest; HA, housework activity; R-, right; L-, left; FPPFC, frontopolar prefrontal cortex; VLPFC, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex; DLPFC, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.

Figure S1 Results of correct responses during the Stroop color–word task.

Notes: (A) The Stroop interference score for correct responses. We subtracted the number of correct responses during the congruent condition from those during the incongruent condition. (B) The variation in the Stroop interference score between post- and pre-sessions for correct responses. *p<0.1.

Abbreviation: HA, housework activity.

Table S1 Effect of Stroop interference

Experiment	HA		Control		Main effect				Interaction
Session	Pre-	Post-	Pre-	Post-	Experiment		Session
					F	p-value	F	p-value	F	p-value
Total responses	−2.36±2.20	−2.93±2.49	−1.61±2.09	−2.80±2.61	1.449	0.240	9.076	0.006***	4.709	0.040**
Correct responses	−2.64±2.64	−3.36±2.82	−1.80±2.20	−3.15±2.77	1.839	0.188	11.452	0.002***	3.496	0.074*

Notes: Repeated-measures ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc analysis.

* p<0.1,

** p<0.05,

*** p<0.01.

Abbreviation: HA, housework activity.