The effect of exercises with high cognitive load and without cognitive load on the working memory of women with panic disorder

Considering that cognitive and physical exercises can significantly improve cognitive abilities and performing activities, therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of participation in exercises with high cognitive load and without cognitive load on the working memory of women with phobias. Considering that the purpose and subject of the current research is semi-experimental with a pre-test and post-test design with a control group. The statistical population of this research includes all women suffering from panic disorder, whose panic disorder was diagnosed using the Albany Barlow and Zinberg Panic and Panic Questionnaire (APPQ) and an interview with a psychiatrist. From this community, 45 people in the age range of 25 to 45 years were selected using the purposeful sampling method and were randomly divided into three groups of 15 people, two experimental groups and one control group, then the experimental groups participated in the exercises. For 18 one-hour sessions before and after the exercise intervention, participants' working memory was evaluated using the N-BACK working memory test. The data was analyzed using the repeated analysis of variance method. The results showed that working memory increased significantly in the experimental group compared to the control group. Therefore, it can be concluded that cognitive and physical exercises strengthen executive functions and improve working memory in women with panic disorder, and it is suggested that inactive women participate in sports such as aerobics, which have a high cognitive load, in order to improve executive function