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Jeyarajan G, Ayaz A, Herold F, Zou L, Heath M. A single bout of aerobic exercise does not alter inhibitory control preparatory set cerebral hemodynamics: Evidence from the antisaccade task. Brain Cogn 2024; 179:106182. [PMID: 38824809 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2024.106182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
A single bout of exercise improves executive function (EF) and is a benefit - in part -attributed to an exercise-mediated increase in cerebral blood flow enhancing neural efficiency. Limited work has used an event-related protocol to examine postexercise changes in preparatory phase cerebral hemodynamics for an EF task. This is salient given the neural efficiency hypothesis' assertion that improved EF is related to decreased brain activity. Here, event-related transcranial Doppler ultrasound was used to measure pro- (saccade to target) and antisaccades (saccade mirror-symmetrical target) preparatory phase middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv) prior to and immediately after 15-min of aerobic exercise. Antisaccades produced longer reaction times (RT) and an increased preparatory phase MCAv than prosaccades - a result attributed to greater EF neural activity for antisaccades. Antisaccades selectively produced a postexercise RT reduction (ps < 0.01); however, antisaccade preparatory phase MCAv did not vary from pre- to postexercise (p=0.53) and did not correlate with the antisaccade RT benefit (p = 0.31). Accordingly, results provide no evidence that improved neural efficiency indexed via functional hyperemia is linked to a postexercise EF behavioural benefit. Instead, results support an evolving view that an EF benefit represents the additive interplay between interdependent exercise-mediated neurophysiological changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianna Jeyarajan
- School of Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Azar Ayaz
- School of Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Fabian Herold
- Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Liye Zou
- Body-Brain-Mind Laboratory, School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Matthew Heath
- School of Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada; Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
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Bodensohn L, Maurer A, Daamen M, Upadhyay N, Werkhausen J, Lohaus M, Manunzio U, Manunzio C, Radbruch A, Attenberger U, Boecker H. Inverted U-shape-like functional connectivity alterations in cognitive resting-state networks depending on exercise intensity: An fMRI study. Brain Cogn 2024; 177:106156. [PMID: 38613926 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2024.106156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Acute physical activity influences cognitive performance. However, the relationship between exercise intensity, neural network activity, and cognitive performance remains poorly understood. This study examined the effects of different exercise intensities on resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) and cognitive performance. Twenty male athletes (27.3 ± 3.6 years) underwent cycling exercises of different intensities (high, low, rest/control) on different days in randomized order. Before and after, subjects performed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and a behavioral Attention Network Test (ANT). Independent component analysis and Linear mixed effects models examined rsFC changes within ten resting-state networks. No significant changes were identified in ANT performance. Resting-state analyses revealed a significant interaction in the Left Frontoparietal Network, driven by a non-significant rsFC increase after low-intensity and a significant rsFC decrease after high-intensity exercise, suggestive of an inverted U-shape relationship between exercise intensity and rsFC. Similar but trend-level rsFC interactions were observed in the Dorsal Attention Network (DAN) and the Cerebellar Basal Ganglia Network. Explorative correlation analysis revealed a significant positive association between rsFC increases in the right superior parietal lobule (part of DAN) and better ANT orienting in the low-intensity condition. Results indicate exercise intensity-dependent subacute rsFC changes in cognition-related networks, but their cognitive-behavioral relevance needs further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Bodensohn
- Clinical Functional Imaging Lab, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 07, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Angelika Maurer
- Clinical Functional Imaging Lab, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 07, 53127 Bonn, Germany.
| | - Marcel Daamen
- Clinical Functional Imaging Lab, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 07, 53127 Bonn, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 99, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Neeraj Upadhyay
- Clinical Functional Imaging Lab, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 07, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Judith Werkhausen
- Clinical Functional Imaging Lab, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 07, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Marvin Lohaus
- Clinical Functional Imaging Lab, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 07, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Ursula Manunzio
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 82, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Christian Manunzio
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 82, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Alexander Radbruch
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 81, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Ulrike Attenberger
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 74, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Henning Boecker
- Clinical Functional Imaging Lab, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 07, 53127 Bonn, Germany
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Shirzad M, Van Riesen J, Behboodpour N, Heath M. 10-min exposure to a 2.5% hypercapnic environment increases cerebral blood blow but does not impact executive function. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2024; 40:143-150. [PMID: 38245339 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2023.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Space travel and exploration are associated with increased ambient CO2 (i.e., a hypercapnic environment). Some work reported that the physiological changes (e.g., increased cerebral blood flow [CBF]) associated with a chronic hypercapnic environment contributes to a "space fog" that adversely impacts cognition and psychomotor performance, whereas other work reported no change or a positive change. Here, we employed the antisaccade task to evaluate whether transient exposure to a hypercapnic environment influences top-down executive function (EF). Antisaccades require a goal-directed eye movement mirror-symmetrical to a target and are an ideal tool for identifying subtle EF changes. Healthy young adults (aged 19-25 years) performed blocks of antisaccade trials prior to (i.e., pre-intervention), during (i.e., concurrent) and after (i.e., post-intervention) 10-min of breathing factional inspired CO2 (FiCO2) of 2.5% (i.e., hypercapnic condition) and during a normocapnic (i.e., control) condition. In both conditions, CBF, ventilatory and cardiorespiratory responses were measured. Results showed that the hypercapnic condition increased CBF, ventilation and end-tidal CO2 and thus demonstrated an expected physiological adaptation to increased FiCO2. Notably, however, null hypothesis and equivalence tests indicated that concurrent and post-intervention antisaccade reaction times were refractory to the hypercapnic environment; that is, transient exposure to a FiCO2 of 2.5% did not produce a real-time or lingering influence on an oculomotor-based measure of EF. Accordingly, results provide a framework that - in part - establishes the FiCO2 percentage and timeline by which high-level EF can be maintained. Future work will explore CBF and EF dynamics during chronic hypercapnic exposure as more direct proxy for the challenges of space flight and exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Shirzad
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - James Van Riesen
- Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, University of Western Ontario, 1201 Western Rd, London, ON N6G 1H1, Canada
| | - Nikan Behboodpour
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Matthew Heath
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada; Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, University of Western Ontario, 1201 Western Rd, London, ON N6G 1H1, Canada; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada.
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Dalton C, Ahn J, Jeyarajan G, Krigolson OE, Heath M. Distinct cortical haemodynamics during squat-stand and continuous aerobic exercise do not influence the magnitude of a postexercise executive function benefit. J Sports Sci 2023; 41:1459-1470. [PMID: 37884880 DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2023.2275086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
A single bout of aerobic exercise benefits executive function (EF). A potential mechanism for this benefit is an exercise-mediated increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) that elicits vascular endothelial shear-stress improving EF efficiency. Moderate intensity continuous aerobic exercise (MCE) asymptotically increases CBF, whereas continuous body weight squat-stand exercise (SSE) provides a large amplitude oscillatory response. Some work has proposed that an increase in CBF oscillation amplitude provides the optimal shear-stress for improving EF and brain health. We examined whether a large amplitude oscillatory CBF response associated with a single bout of SSE imparts a larger postexercise EF benefit than an MCE cycle ergometer protocol. Exercise changes in middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv) were measured via transcranial Doppler ultrasound to estimate CBF, and pre- and postexercise EF was assessed via the antisaccade task. MCE produced a steady state increase in MCAv, whereas SSE produced a large amplitude MCAv oscillation. Both conditions produced a postexercise EF benefit that null hypothesis and equivalence tests showed to be comparable in magnitude. Accordingly, we provide a first demonstration that a single bout of SSE benefits EF; however, the condition's oscillatory CBF response does not impart a larger benefit than a time- and intensity-matched MCE protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor Dalton
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Joshua Ahn
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Gianna Jeyarajan
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Olave E Krigolson
- Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Matthew Heath
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
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Ahn J, Tari B, Morava A, Prapavessis H, Heath M. A single bout of passive exercise mitigates a mental fatigue-induced inhibitory control deficit. Exp Brain Res 2023:10.1007/s00221-023-06640-7. [PMID: 37256338 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-023-06640-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Sustained cognitive effort associated with the psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) increases objective and subjective measures of mental fatigue and elicits a post-PVT inhibitory control deficit. In contrast, passive exercise wherein an individual's limbs are moved via an external force (i.e., mechanically driven cycle ergometer flywheel) provides a postexercise inhibitory control benefit linked to an exercise-based increase in cerebral blood flow. Here, we examined whether passive exercise performed concurrently with the PVT 'blunts' an inhibitory control deficit. On separate days, participants (N = 27) completed a 20 min PVT protocol (control condition) and same duration PVT protocol paired with passive cycle ergometry (passive exercise condition). Prior to (i.e., baseline), immediately after and 30 min after each condition inhibitory control was assessed via the antisaccade task. Antisaccades require a goal-directed eye movement (i.e., saccade) mirror-symmetrical to a target and provide an ideal tool for evaluating task-based changes in inhibitory control. PVT results showed that vigilance (as assessed via reaction time: RT) during control and passive exercise conditions decreased from the first to last 5 min of the protocol and increased subjective ratings of mental fatigue. As well, in the control condition, immediate (but not 30-min) post-intervention antisaccade RTs were longer than their baseline counterparts-a result evincing a transient mental fatigue-based inhibitory control deficit. For the passive exercise condition, immediate and 30-min post-intervention antisaccade RTs were shorter than their baseline counterparts and this result was linked to decreased subjective ratings of mental fatigue. Thus, passive exercise ameliorated the selective inhibitory control deficit associated with PVT-induced mental fatigue and thus provides a potential framework to reduce executive dysfunction in vigilance-demanding occupations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Ahn
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON, N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Benjamin Tari
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON, N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Anisa Morava
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON, N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Harry Prapavessis
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON, N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Matthew Heath
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON, N6A 3K7, Canada.
- Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, University of Western Ontario, 1201 Western Rd, London, ON, N6G 1H1, Canada.
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON, N6A 3K7, Canada.
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