This study sought to explore the neural and affective responses to exercise- and sedentary-related imagery among Latin Americans and Non-Hispanic Whites with overweight and obesity, aiming to understand the influence of cultural background on exercise behaviors. Using electroencephalography, the research investigates differences in directional brain connectivity patterns and emotional reactions between the two groups. Participants were shown images depicting exercise and sedentary behaviors, with affective responses recorded via the Self-Assessment Manikin and neural connectivity assessed using Granger Causality Analysis. Results indicate significant differences in brain connectivity between groups and conditions. Non-Hispanic Whites showed stronger connectivity within frontal-parietal networks during exercise imagery, while Latin Americans displayed more distributed connectivity during sedentary imagery, suggesting different neural engagement strategies. Affective data revealed that participants reported higher valence for exercise-related images, with Latin Americans exhibiting higher perceived activation for sedentary images. Qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews identified key themes, including family support, motivation to exercise, and time constraints. Both groups emphasized the importance of social influences on physical activity; however, Latin Americans expressed more ambivalence toward exercise. Network analysis of interview data further highlighted the complex interplay between these psychosocial factors. This study provides novel insights into how cultural differences shape both neural and emotional responses to exercise, informing the development of culturally tailored interventions to promote physical activity in populations with higher obesity prevalence.
AbdoliM.Scotto RosatoM.DesousaA.CotrufoP. (2024). Cultural differences in body image: A systematic review. Social Sciences, 13(6), 305. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13060305
2.
AlemánJ. O.AlmandozJ. P.FriasJ. P.GalindoR. J. (2023). Obesity among latinx people in the United States: A review. Obesity, 31(2), 329–337. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23638
3.
AndersonE.DurstineJ. L. (2019). Physical activity, exercise, and chronic diseases: A brief review. Sports Medicine and Health Science, 1(1), 3–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smhs.2019.08.006
4.
AntonioD. S.BigliassiM. (2025). Data collection and analysis of psychophysiological metrics during movement execution. In BigliassiM.FilhoE. (Eds.), Sport and exercise psychophysiology (pp. 71–107). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-90034-1_4
5.
BanthamA.Taverno RossS. E.SebastiãoE.HallG. (2021). Overcoming barriers to physical activity in underserved populations. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, 64(1-2), 64–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcad.2020.11.002
6.
BautistaL.ReiningerB.GayJ. L.BarrosoC. S.McCormickJ. B. (2011). Perceived barriers to exercise in hispanic adults by level of activity. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 8(7), 916–925. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.8.7.916
7.
BigliassiM.FilhoE. (2022). Functional significance of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during exhaustive exercise. Biological Psychology, 175, 108442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2022.108442
BourkeM.PhillipsS. M.GilchristJ.PilaE. (2024). The pleasure of moving: A compositional data analysis of the association between replacing sedentary time with physical activity on affective valence in daily life. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 75(2), 102724. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2024.102724
10.
BradleyM. M.LangP. J. (1994). Measuring emotion: The self-assessment manikin and the semantic differential. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 25(1), 49–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-7916(94)90063-9
BrittainE. L.HanL.AnnisJ.MasterH.HughesA.RodenD. M.HarrisP. A.RuderferD. M. (2024). Physical activity and incident obesity across the spectrum of genetic risk for obesity. JAMA Network Open, 7(3), e243821. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.3821
13.
BuckleyJ.CohenJ. D.KramerA. F.McAuleyE.MullenS. P. (2014). Cognitive control in the self-regulation of physical activity and sedentary behavior. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 8, 747. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00747
14.
Cairns-LeeH.LawleyJ.ToseyP. (2022). Enhancing researcher reflexivity about the influence of leading questions in interviews. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 58(1), 164–188. https://doi.org/10.1177/00218863211037446
15.
CassidyS.ChauJ. Y.CattM.BaumanA.TrenellM. I. (2017). Low physical activity, high television viewing and poor sleep duration cluster in overweight and obese adults; a cross-sectional study of 398,984 participants from the UK biobank. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 14(1), 57. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-017-0514-y
16.
ChevalB.BoisgontierM. P. (2021). The theory of effort minimization in physical activity. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, 49(3), 168–178. https://doi.org/10.1249/JES.0000000000000252
17.
ClevenL.Krell-RoeschJ.NiggC. R.WollA. (2020). The association between physical activity with incident obesity, coronary heart disease, diabetes and hypertension in adults: A systematic review of longitudinal studies published after 2012. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 726. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-08715-4
18.
CollinsA. M.Molina-HidalgoC.AghjayanS. L.FanningJ.ErlenbachE. D.GotheN. P.Velazquez-DiazD.EricksonK. I. (2023). Differentiating the influence of sedentary behavior and physical activity on brain health in late adulthood. Experimental Gerontology, 180, 112246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2023.112246
19.
CraigC. L.MarshallA. L.SjöströmM.BaumanA. E.BoothM. L.AinsworthB. E.PrattM.EkelundU.YngveA.SallisJ. F.OjaP. (2003). International physical activity questionnaire: 12-country reliability and validity. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 35(8), 1381–1395. https://doi.org/10.1249/01.MSS.0000078924.61453.FB
20.
Di DomenicoS. I.RyanR. M. (2017). The emerging neuroscience of intrinsic motivation: A new frontier in self-determination research. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 11, 145. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2017.00145
21.
EcheverríaS. E.DivneyA.RodriguezF.SterlingM.VasquezE.MurilloR.LopezL. (2019). Nativity and occupational determinants of physical activity participation among latinos. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 56(1), 84–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2018.07.036
22.
FeilK.WeylandS.FritschJ.WäscheH.JekaucD. (2022). Anticipatory and anticipated emotions in regular and non-regular exercisers – A qualitative study. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 929380. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.929380
23.
GrayC. L.MesserL. C.RappazzoK. M.JagaiJ. S.GrabichS. C.LobdellD. T. (2018). The association between physical inactivity and obesity is modified by five domains of environmental quality in U.S. Adults: A cross-sectional study. Plos One, 13(8), e0203301. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0203301
24.
GuoS.IzydorczykB.LipowskaM.KamionkaA.LizińczykS.Sajewicz-RadtkeU.RadtkeB. M.LiuT.LipowskiM. (2023). Socio-cultural attitudes toward the body as a predictor of motivation for physical activity in young people brought up in Asian and European culture—Chinese-Polish comparison. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 15(1), 52. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-023-00662-y
25.
GutholdR.StevensG. A.RileyL. M.BullF. C. (2018). Worldwide trends in insufficient physical activity from 2001 to 2016: A pooled analysis of 358 population-based surveys with 1·9 million participants. The Lancet. Global Health, 6(10), e1077–e1086. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(18)30357-7
26.
HalesC. M.FryarC. D.CarrollM. D.FreedmanD. S.AokiY.OgdenC. L. (2018). Differences in obesity prevalence by demographic characteristics and urbanization level among adults in the United States, 2013-2016. JAMA, 319(23), 2419–2429. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.7270
27.
HallalP. C.AndersenL. B.BullF. C.GutholdR.HaskellW.EkelundU., & Lancet Physical Activity Series Working Group. (2012). Global physical activity levels: Surveillance progress, pitfalls, and prospects. Lancet, 380(9838), 247–257. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60646-1
HanY. M. Y.ChanM. M. Y.ChoiC. X. T.LawM. C. H.AhorsuD. K.TsangH. W. H. (2023). The neurobiological effects of mind–body exercise: A systematic review and meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 10948. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-37309-4
30.
JohnJ. C.HerediaN. I.McNeillL. H.HoelscherD. M.SchembreS. M.LeeM.OpusunjuJ. J.GoetzM.AguirreM.ReiningerB. M.StrongL. L. (2022). Qualitative exploration of family influences on physical activity in hispanic families. Journal of Physical Activity & Health, 19(2), 89–98. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2021-0301
31.
KohY. S.AsharaniP. V.DeviF.RoystonnK.WangP.VaingankarJ. A.AbdinE.SumC. F.LeeE. S.Müller-RiemenschneiderF.ChongS. A.SubramaniamM. (2022). A cross-sectional study on the perceived barriers to physical activity and their associations with domain-specific physical activity and sedentary behaviour. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 1051. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13431-2
32.
KoliakiC.DalamagaM.LiatisS. (2023). Update on the obesity epidemic: After the sudden rise, is the upward trajectory beginning to flatten?Current Obesity Reports, 12(4), 514–527. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-023-00527-y
33.
LarsenB. A.NobleM. L.MurrayK. E.MarcusB. H. (2015). Physical activity in latino men and women: Facilitators, barriers, and interventions. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 9(1), 4–30. https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827614521758
34.
LarsenB. A.PekmeziD.MarquezB.BenitezT. J.MarcusB. H. (2013). Physical activity in latinas: Social and environmental influences. Women’s Health, 9(2), 201–210. https://doi.org/10.2217/whe.13.9
35.
MarekS.DosenbachN. U. F. (2018). The frontoparietal network: Function, electrophysiology, and importance of individual precision mapping. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 20(2), 133–140. https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2018.20.2/smarek
36.
MariniF.BreedingK. A.SnowJ. C. (2019). Distinct visuo-motor brain dynamics for real-world objects versus planar images. NeuroImage, 195(C), 232–242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.02.026
37.
MarquezD. X.BustamanteE. E.BockB. C.MarkensonG.TovarA.Chasan-TaberL. (2009). Perspectives of Latina and non-Latina white women on barriers and facilitators to exercise in pregnancy. Women & Health, 49(6), 505–521. https://doi.org/10.1080/03630240903427114
38.
MartinezS. M.ArredondoE. M.PerezG.BaqueroB. (2009). Individual, social, and environmental barriers to and facilitators of physical activity among latinas living in san diego county: Focus group results. Family & Community Health, 32(1), 22–33. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.FCH.0000342814.42025.6d
39.
MehrabiF.AmiriP.CheraghiL.KheradmandA.HosseinpanahF.AziziF. (2021). Emotional states of different obesity phenotypes: A sex-specific study in a west-Asian population. BMC Psychiatry, 21(1), 124. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03131-3
40.
MerinoM.Tornero-AguileraJ. F.Rubio-ZarapuzA.Villanueva-TobaldoC. V.Martín-RodríguezA.Clemente-SuárezV. J. (2024). Body perceptions and psychological well-being: A review of the impact of social media and physical measurements on self-esteem and mental health with a focus on body image satisfaction and its relationship with cultural and gender factors. Healthcare, 12(14), 1396. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12141396
41.
MierN.MedinaA. A.OryM. G. (2007). Mexican Americans with type 2 diabetes: Perspectives on definitions, motivators, and programs of physical activity. Preventing Chronic Disease, 4(2), A24. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1893123/.
42.
MyersA.GibbonsC.FinlaysonG.BlundellJ. (2017). Associations among sedentary and active behaviours, body fat and appetite dysregulation: Investigating the myth of physical inactivity and obesity. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 51(21), 1540–1544. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2015-095640
43.
Office of Management and Budget. (1997, October 30). Revisions to the standards for the classification of federal data on race and ethnicity. Federal Register, 62(210), 58782–58790.
44.
Palomero-GallagherN.AmuntsK. (2022). A short review on emotion processing: A lateralized network of neuronal networks. Brain Structure and Function, 227(2), 673–684. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-021-02331-7
45.
PanJ.ZhanL.HuC.YangJ.WangC.GuL.ZhongS.HuangY.WuQ.XieX.ChenQ.ZhouH.HuangM.WuX. (2018). Emotion regulation and complex brain networks: Association between expressive suppression and efficiency in the fronto-parietal network and default-mode network. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 12, 70. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2018.00070
46.
ParkD. C.HuangC.-M. (2010). Culture wires the brain: A cognitive neuroscience perspective. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 5(4), 391–400. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691610374591
47.
PayánD. D.SloaneD. C.IllumJ.LewisL. B. (2019). Intrapersonal and environmental barriers to physical activity among Blacks and latinos. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 51(4), 478–485. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2018.10.001
48.
PrinceS. A.AdamoK. B.HamelM.HardtJ.Connor GorberS.TremblayM. (2008). A comparison of direct versus self-report measures for assessing physical activity in adults: A systematic review. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 5(1), 56. https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-5-56
RaschD.GuiardV. (2004). The robustness of parametric statistical methods. Psychology Science, 46(2), 175–208.
51.
ReadJ. G.LynchS. M.WestJ. S. (2021). Disaggregating heterogeneity among Non-Hispanic whites: Evidence and implications for U.S. Racial/ethnic health disparities. Population Research and Policy Review, 40(1), 9–31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11113-020-09632-5
52.
RioC. J.SaliganL. N. (2023). Understanding physical activity from a cultural-contextual lens. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1223919. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1223919
53.
Salvatierra-CalderónV.Romero-PérezE. M.LemesV.SadaranganiK. P.Reyes-MolinaD.Delgado-FloodyP.Soto-SánchezJ.FerrariG.BrandC.Cristi-MonteroC. (2024). The multiple mediation impact of adolescents’ physical fitness and cognitive perceptions on their objective measures – the cogni-action project. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 75, 102721. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2024.102721
54.
SchimmelpfennigJ.TopczewskiJ.ZajkowskiW.Jankowiak-SiudaK. (2023). The role of the salience network in cognitive and affective deficits. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 17, 1133367. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2023.1133367
55.
SethA. K.BarrettA. B.BarnettL. (2015). Granger causality analysis in neuroscience and neuroimaging. The Journal of Neuroscience, 35(8), 3293–3297. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4399-14.2015
56.
SprengR. N.StevensW. D.ChamberlainJ. P.GilmoreA. W.SchacterD. L. (2010). Default network activity, coupled with the frontoparietal control network, supports goal-directed cognition. NeuroImage, 53(1), 303–317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.06.016
57.
TabachnickB. G.FidellL. S. (2007). Using multivariate statistics (5th ed., p. xxvii, 980). Allyn & Bacon/Pearson Education.
58.
TempleN. J. (2022). The origins of the obesity epidemic in the USA–lessons for today. Nutrients, 14(20), 4253. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14204253
59.
VásquezE.StrizichG.GalloL.MarshallS. J.MerchantG. C.MurilloR.PenedoF. J.SalazarC.Sotres-AlvarezD.ShawB. A.IsasiC. R. (2016). The role of stress in understanding differences in sedentary behavior in Hispanic/latino adults: Results from the Hispanic community health study/study of Latinos sociocultural ancillary study. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 13(3), 310–317. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2014-0608
60.
VlachopoulosS. P.MichailidouS. (2006). Development and initial validation of a measure of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in exercise: The basic psychological needs in exercise scale. Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, 10(3), 179–201. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327841mpee1003_4
61.
WarburtonD. E. R.NicolC. W.BredinS. S. D. (2006). Health benefits of physical activity: The evidence. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 174(6), 801–809. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.051351
62.
WiklundP. (2016). The role of physical activity and exercise in obesity and weight management: Time for critical appraisal. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 5(2), 151–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2016.04.001
YanoM.SuwazonoS.AraoH.YasunagaD.OishiH. (2019). Inter-participant variabilities and sample sizes in P300 and P600. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 140, 33–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2019.03.010
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
