ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Psychol.
Sec. Movement Science
This article is part of the Research TopicHarnessing Physical Activity for Cognitive Enhancement and Mental Health PromotionView all 9 articles
The Relationship Between Muscle Strength and Working Memory in Older Adults: fNIRS-based Evidence
Provisionally accepted
- 1Suzhou Vocational University, Suzhou, China
- 2Guangdong Vocational Institute of Sport, Guangzhou, China
- 3Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, China
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Abstracts Background The association between muscle strength and cognitive function is well-established, yet its influence on working memory and related brain activation remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the unique contributions of grip strength and 30-second sit-up to working memory performance and prefrontal cortex activation. Methods A total of 192 older adults were recruited from nursing homes and communities. Working memory performance (reaction time and accuracy) was assessed using an n-back task, while hemodynamic responses were monitored in six prefrontal subregions using a 24-channel fNIRS system. Muscle strength metrics included normalized grip strength and normalized 30-second sit-up. For each dependent variable, four hierarchical regression models were constructed. Results Normalized grip strength showed robust independent associations with high-load working memory performance (2-back reaction time: β = -0.22, p < 0.001; accuracy: β = 0.19, p = 0.002) and with activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (L-DLPFC during 2-back: β = 0.24, p < 0.001). When both strength metrics were included simultaneously (Model 3), normalized grip strength remained significantly associated (all p < 0.01), while the association of normalized 30-second sit-up became nonsignificant (all p > 0.20). The associations exhibited a clear prefrontal functional hierarchy (DLPFC > VLPFC > FPA) and cognitive load modulation pattern (0-back < 1-back < 2-back). Conclusion The findings indicate that normalized grip strength, more so than normalized 30-second sit-up, is associated with the level of prefrontal hemodynamic activation during working memory tasks in older adults. This association is finely modulated by the functional hierarchy of the prefrontal cortex and task complexity. This highlights that standardized grip strength may be a key biomarker linked to the physical-mental health nexus, informing the development of resistance training interventions aimed at preserving cognitive health.
Keywords: 30-second sit-up, brain activation, functional near-infrared spectroscopy, Grip strength, older adults, working memory
Received: 17 Nov 2025; Accepted: 22 Jan 2026.
Copyright: © 2026 Meng, Liao and Cai. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Zhidong Cai
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