Standing Enhances Esports Performance and Executive Function for Short Durations, but Not for Long: Implications for Positive Sitting

Abstract

Humans evolved to sit in a squatting, whereas industrialization/digitization promoted sitting on a chair for prolonged digital cognitive activities, as represented by esports, contributing to unhealthy lifestyles. Although moderate standing, a countermeasure against prolonged sitting, promotes not only health but also cognitive performance, postural influence on esports play remains unknown. Here, we show that moderate standing (≤60 minutes) improves mood and executive/esports performances, but prolonged standing (>60 minutes) causes cognitive fatigue, leading to lowered performances. We first conducted a crossover session of virtual football gaming for a maximum of three hours while standing or sitting in collegiate casual players. In the initial 30 minutes, standing increased vitality and pleasure, executive function assessed by Flanker interference, and shot performance. Heart rate, pupil size, and salivary cortisol and testosterone were higher in the standing condition. Beyond 60 minutes, standing slowed interference with increased conceded goals, and 50% of the participants retired during play. We next tested the effect of leaning forward in a seated position. Leaning forward enhanced vitality and pleasure, interference, and shot and pass performance than reclining during the initial 60 minutes, but led to lower interference and cognitive accuracy after 120 minutes. Reclining slowed interference from the early phase, but accuracy remained unchanged throughout playing. Our findings provide evidence for leaning forward seating as an alternative active sitting mirroring the cognitive dynamics of standing esports play. Reclining supports cognitive endurance with higher accuracy. Modifying posture to match cognitive demands could encourage active and healthy lifestyles in the digital age.