Aerobic exercise and aerobic fitness level do not modify motor learning

Association Between Physical Activity and Performance in Skill Learning Among Older Adults Based on Cognitive Function

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Most older adults experience cognitive and physical functioning problems; however, they require the ability to learn skills in response to age-related or social environmental changes for independent living. This study aimed to clarify the associations between age-related physical activity and performance in skill learning tasks based on cognitive function.

METHODS

Fifty-eight adults participated in this study and were divided into two groups: the control group (aged under 65 years) and older adult group (aged over 65). All the participants performed two-skill learning exercises based on cognitive function. Habitual exercise was measured using an accelerometer and a self-reported questionnaire.

RESULTS

At baseline, the scores on skill tasks were lower in the older adult group than in the control group and were associated with habitual exercise and motor performance. Skill acquisition, observed in both groups, was associated with age and self-reported physical activity. Retention of the acquired skill was not associated with habitual exercise, and it declined significantly in the older group.

CONCLUSIONS

Skill acquisition was maintained regardless of age; however, the ability to retain the acquired skills decreased among the older adults. Habitual physical activity was associated with skill acquisition but not the retention of the acquired skill. Significance/Implications: The study findings highlight the association between habitual exercise and motor skill learning in older adults, providing insight for practitioners in the rehabilitation and health care fields.

High-intensity acute exercise impacts motor learning in healthy older adults

Healthy aging is associated with changes in motor sequence learning, with some studies indicating decline in motor skill learning in older age. Acute cardiorespiratory exercise has emerged as a potential intervention to improve motor learning, however research in healthy older adults is limited. The current study investigated the impact of high-intensity interval exercise (HIIT) on a subsequent sequential motor learning task. Twenty-four older adults (aged 55-75 years) completed either 20-minutes of cycling, or an equivalent period of active rest before practicing a sequential force grip task. Skill learning was assessed during acquisition and at a 6-hour retention test. In contrast to expectation, exercise was associated with reduced accuracy during skill acquisition compared to rest, particularly for the oldest participants. However, improvements in motor skill were retained in the exercise condition, while a reduction in skill was observed following rest. Our findings indicate that high-intensity exercise conducted immediately prior to learning a novel motor skill may have a negative impact on motor performance during learning in older adults. We also demonstrated that exercise may facilitate early offline consolidation of a motor skill within this population, which has implications for motor rehabilitation.

The effects of a single bout of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on visuomotor adaptation and its savings

Performing exercise before or after motor skill learning is thought to have a positive impact on acquisition and retention of motor memories stored in our nervous system. It has been shown that performing 25 min of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise prior to visuomotor adaptation can enhance both visuomotor adaptation and its retention compared to 25 min of rest before the adaptation. To determine whether a single bout of aerobic exercise could actually facilitate the formation of a neural representation associated with a novel visuomotor condition, we examined aftereffects and savings associated with a visuomotor adaptation task following either an exercise or a rest condition. Sixteen healthy young individuals (18-35 years) first experienced 25 min of moderate-intensity cycling or rest, and then adapted to a 30-degree visuomotor rotation condition. Immediately following that, participants experienced a washout session, which was followed by a readaptation session. Results indicated that all subjects adapted to the visuomotor rotation completely, although no difference was found between the cycling and rest conditions. Aftereffects and savings were also observed in both conditions, but with no difference between the conditions. These findings suggest that compared to a short rest session, a single bout of moderate-intensity cycling may not have a greater impact for enhancing visuomotor adaptation and its retention. Further research is needed, in which the effects of certain factors such as exercise intensity, duration and timing are more systematically investigated.

Effects of aerobic exercise on body self-esteem among Chinese college students: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of aerobic exercise on five dimensions of physical self-worth, exercise capacity, physical condition, physical attractiveness, and physical quality in body self-esteem of Chinese college students.

METHODS

By searching PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNIK database, VIP database, WANFANG database platform, we searched for the subject terms or keywords "body self-esteem", "Chinese college students", "Systematic evaluation", "Aerobic exercise", "Exercise intervention", "Meta-Analysis". The search method was a combination of subject terms and keywords and title, and the search period was from database creation to The search was conducted from database creation to May 2022. A total of 3221 articles were searched, and 9 articles were included in the study through repeated screening. Risk of bias was assessed with Cochrane and the quality of studies in the literature was assessed using Grade pro software. The outcome indicators of the included literature were analysed using review manager 5.4 software and StataMP 17.0 software.

RESULTS

Nine papers including 1613 subjects were included. results of Meta-analysis showed that aerobic exercise was effective in improving physical self-worth (WMD = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.08-1.83, p<0.001), improving exercise capacity (WMD = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.23-2.01, p<0.001), improving physical attractiveness (WMD = 1.32, 95% CI: 0.98-1.67, p<0.001), improved physical condition (WMD = 1.32, 95% CI: 0.98-1.67, P<0.001), improved physical fitness (WMD = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.07-1.95, P<0.001). The differences were all statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Aerobic exercise can effectively improve the body self-esteem of Chinese college students. In exercise, male students pursue is athletic ability and physical fitness, and female students pursue is the sense of physical self-worth and physical attractiveness. Aerobic exercise has a greater increase in body self-esteem for obese or Obese college students. Aerobics and physical dance are the most cost-effective for improving body self-esteem. Medium-intensity relative to low-intensity exercise was effective for body self-esteem intervention. A single exercise session of 90 minutes was more effective than a single 30-minute session in boosting body self-esteem, and the overall intervention duration of 16 weeks was more effective than 10 weeks.

A Systematic Review on the Effects of Acute Aerobic Exercise on Neurophysiological, Molecular, and Behavioral Measures in Chronic Stroke

BACKGROUND

A single bout of aerobic exercise (AE) can produce changes in neurophysiological and behavioral measures in healthy individuals and those with stroke. However, the effects of AE-priming effects on neuroplasticity markers and behavioral measures are unclear.

OBJECTIVES

This systematic review aimed to examine the effects of AE on neuroplasticity measures, such as corticomotor excitability (CME), molecular markers, cortical activation, motor learning, and performance in stroke.

METHODS

A literature search was performed in MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, and PsycINFO databases. Randomized and non-randomized studies incorporating acute AE in stroke were selected. Two reviewers independently assessed the risk of bias and methodological rigor of the studies and extracted data on participant characteristics, exercise interventions, and neuroplasticity related outcomes. The quality of transcranial magnetic stimulation reported methods was assessed using a standardized checklist.

RESULTS

A total of 16 studies were found suitable for inclusion. Our findings suggest mixed evidence for the effects of AE on CME, limited to no effects on intracortical inhibition and facilitation and some evidence for modulating brain derived neurotrophic factor levels, motor learning, and cortical activation. Exercise intensities in the moderate to vigorous range showed a trend towards better effects on neuroplasticity measures.

CONCLUSION

It appears that choosing a moderate to vigorous exercise paradigm for at least 20 to 30 minutes may induce changes in some neuroplasticity parameters in stroke. However, these findings necessitate prudent consideration as the studies were diverse and had moderate methodological quality. There is a need for a consensus on an exercise priming paradigm and for good-quality, larger controlled studies.

Multiple bouts of high-intensity interval exercise reverse age-related functional connectivity disruptions without affecting motor learning in older adults

Exercise has emerged as an intervention that may mitigate age-related resting state functional connectivity and sensorimotor decline. Here, 42 healthy older adults rested or completed 3 sets of high-intensity interval exercise for a total of 23 min, then immediately practiced an implicit motor task with their non-dominant hand across five separate sessions. Participants completed resting state functional MRI before the first and after the fifth day of practice; they also returned 24-h and 35-days later to assess short- and long-term retention. Independent component analysis of resting state functional MRI revealed increased connectivity in the frontoparietal, the dorsal attentional, and cerebellar networks in the exercise group relative to the rest group. Seed-based analysis showed strengthened connectivity between the limbic system and right cerebellum, and between the right cerebellum and bilateral middle temporal gyri in the exercise group. There was no motor learning advantage for the exercise group. Our data suggest that exercise paired with an implicit motor learning task in older adults can augment resting state functional connectivity without enhancing behaviour beyond that stimulated by skilled motor practice.