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Tian H, Wang Z, Meng Y, Geng L, Lian H, Shi Z, Zhuang Z, Cai W, He M. Neural mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment in depression and cognitive benefits of exercise intervention. Behav Brain Res 2024; 476:115218. [PMID: 39182624 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115218] [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: 05/05/2024] [Revised: 08/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
Depression is associated with functional brain impairments, although comprehensive studies remain limited. This study reviews neural mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment in depression and identifies associated activation abnormalities in brain regions. The study also explores the underlying neural processes of cognitive benefits of exercise intervention for depression. Executive function impairments, including working memory, inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility are associated with frontal cortex and anterior cingulate areas, especially dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Depression is associated with certain neural impairments of reward processing, especially orbitofrontal cortex, prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens and other striatal regions. Depressed patients exhibit decreased activity in the hippocampus during memory function. Physical exercise has been found to enhance memory function, executive function, and reward processing in depression patients by increasing functional brain regions and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as a nutritional factor also plays a key role in exercise intervention. The study documents neurophysiological mechanisms behind exercise intervention's improved functions. In summary, the study provides insights into neural mechanisms underlying cognitive impairments in depression and the effectiveness of exercise as a treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huizi Tian
- Department of Psychology, School of Sports Medicine, Wuhan Sports University, China
| | - Zhifang Wang
- School of Psychology, Capital Normal University, China
| | - Yao Meng
- Department of Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine, Naval Special Medical Center, Naval Medical University, China
| | - Lu Geng
- Department of Psychology, School of Sports Medicine, Wuhan Sports University, China
| | - Hao Lian
- Faculty of Psychology, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhifei Shi
- Department of Psychology, School of Sports Medicine, Wuhan Sports University, China
| | - Zhidong Zhuang
- Department of Psychology, School of Sports Medicine, Wuhan Sports University, China
| | - Wenpeng Cai
- Faculty of Psychology, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Mengyang He
- Department of Psychology, School of Sports Medicine, Wuhan Sports University, China.
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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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3
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Persaud P, Belfry GR, Heath M. Menstrual cycle status does not impact exercise-based changes in cerebral blood flow or executive function benefits. J Sports Sci 2024; 42:1061-1071. [PMID: 39052669 DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2024.2382566] [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: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
A single bout of exercise enhances executive function (EF) and may relate to an increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF). A limitation in the current literature is that biologically female participants are underrepresented given some evidence that changes in hormone levels across the menstrual cycle impact physiological and psychological variables. Here, biologically female participants completed separate single bouts of moderate intensity exercise (80% of estimated lactate threshold) during the follicular (FOL) and luteal (LUT) phases of their menstrual cycle. In addition, biologically male participants completed a same duration/intensity exercise session. Middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv) was used to estimate CBF and pre- and postexercise EF was assessed via the antisaccade task. Results showed that resting MCAv was larger in the LUT than FOL phase; however, the exercise-mediated increase in MCAv was equivalent between menstrual cycle phases, and between female and male participants. Antisaccade reaction times reliably decreased from pre- to postexercise and frequentist and non-frequentist statistics demonstrated that the magnitude of the decrease was equivalent across FOL and LUT phases, and between female and male participants. Thus, results evince that menstrual cycle status should not serve as a basis limiting biologically female participants' inclusion in research examining exercise and EF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Persaud
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Glen R Belfry
- 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
| | - 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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4
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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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5
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Zou L, Herold F, Ludyga S, Kamijo K, Müller NG, Pontifex MB, Heath M, Kuwamizu R, Soya H, Hillman CH, Ando S, Alderman BL, Cheval B, Kramer AF. Look into my eyes: What can eye-based measures tell us about the relationship between physical activity and cognitive performance? JOURNAL OF SPORT AND HEALTH SCIENCE 2023; 12:568-591. [PMID: 37148971 PMCID: PMC10466196 DOI: 10.1016/j.jshs.2023.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a growing interest to understand the neurobiological mechanisms that drive the positive associations of physical activity and fitness with measures of cognitive performance. To better understand those mechanisms, several studies have employed eye-based measures (e.g., eye movement measures such as saccades, pupillary measures such as pupil dilation, and vascular measures such as retinal vessel diameter) deemed to be proxies for specific neurobiological mechanisms. However, there is currently no systematic review providing a comprehensive overview of these studies in the field of exercise-cognition science. Thus, this review aimed to address that gap in the literature. METHODS To identify eligible studies, we searched 5 electronic databases on October 23, 2022. Two researchers independently extracted data and assessed the risk of bias using a modified version of the Tool for the assEssment of Study qualiTy and reporting in EXercise (TESTEX scale, for interventional studies) and the critical appraisal tool from the Joanna Briggs Institute (for cross-sectional studies). RESULTS Our systematic review (n = 35 studies) offers the following main findings: (a) there is insufficient evidence available to draw solid conclusions concerning gaze-fixation-based measures; (b) the evidence that pupillometric measures, which are a proxy for the noradrenergic system, can explain the positive effect of acute exercise and cardiorespiratory fitness on cognitive performance is mixed; (c) physical training- or fitness-related changes of the cerebrovascular system (operationalized via changes in retinal vasculature) are, in general, positively associated with cognitive performance improvements; (d) acute and chronic physical exercises show a positive effect based on an oculomotor-based measure of executive function (operationalized via antisaccade tasks); and (e) the positive association between cardiorespiratory fitness and cognitive performance is partly mediated by the dopaminergic system (operationalized via spontaneous eye-blink rate). CONCLUSION This systematic review offers confirmation that eye-based measures can provide valuable insight into the neurobiological mechanisms that may drive positive associations between physical activity and fitness and measures of cognitive performance. However, due to the limited number of studies utilizing specific methods for obtaining eye-based measures (e.g., pupillometry, retinal vessel analysis, spontaneous eye blink rate) or investigating a possible dose-response relationship, further research is necessary before more nuanced conclusions can be drawn. Given that eye-based measures are economical and non-invasive, we hope this review will foster the future application of eye-based measures in the field of exercise-cognition science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liye Zou
- Body-Brain-Mind Laboratory, School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; Research Group Degenerative and Chronic Diseases, Movement, Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, University of Potsdam, Potsdam 14476, Germany.
| | - Fabian Herold
- Body-Brain-Mind Laboratory, School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; Research Group Degenerative and Chronic Diseases, Movement, Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, University of Potsdam, Potsdam 14476, Germany
| | - Sebastian Ludyga
- Department of Sport, Exercise, and Health, University of Basel, Basel 4052, Switzerland
| | - Keita Kamijo
- Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Chukyo University, Nagoya 466-8666, Japan
| | - Notger G Müller
- Body-Brain-Mind Laboratory, School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; Research Group Degenerative and Chronic Diseases, Movement, Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, University of Potsdam, Potsdam 14476, Germany
| | - Matthew B Pontifex
- Department of Kinesiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Matthew Heath
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London ON N6A 3K7, Canada; Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, University of Western Ontario, London ON, N6A 3K7, Canada; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario, London ON, N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Ryuta Kuwamizu
- Laboratory of Exercise Biochemistry and Neuroendocrinology, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-0006, Japan
| | - Hideaki Soya
- Laboratory of Exercise Biochemistry and Neuroendocrinology, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-0006, Japan; Sport Neuroscience Division, Advanced Research Initiative for Human High Performance (ARIHHP), Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-0006, Japan
| | - Charles H Hillman
- Center for Cognitive and Brain Health, Department of Psychology, Department of Physical Therapy, Movement, and Rehabilitation Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Soichi Ando
- Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering, The University of Electro-Communications, Tokyo 182-8585, Japan
| | - Brandon L Alderman
- Department of Kinesiology and Health, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, New Brunswick, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Boris Cheval
- Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva 1205, Switzerland; Laboratory for the Study of Emotion Elicitation and Expression (E3Lab), Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva 1205, Switzerland
| | - Arthur F Kramer
- Department of Psychology, Center for Cognitive and Brain Health, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
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Morava A, Tari B, Ahn J, Shirzad M, Heath M, Prapavessis H. Acute stress imparts a transient benefit to task-switching that is not modulated following a single bout of exercise. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1157644. [PMID: 37533726 PMCID: PMC10391836 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1157644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cognitive flexibility represents a core component of executive function that promotes the ability to efficiently alternate-or "switch"-between different tasks. Literature suggests that acute stress negatively impacts cognitive flexibility, whereas a single bout of aerobic exercise supports a postexercise improvement in cognitive flexibility. Here, we examined whether a single bout of aerobic exercise attenuates a stress-induced decrement in task-switching. Materials and Methods Forty participants (age range = 19-30) completed the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and were randomized into separate Exercise or Rest groups entailing 20-min sessions of heavy intensity exercise (80% of heart rate maximum via cycle ergometer) or rest, respectively. Stress induction was confirmed via state anxiety and heart rate. Task-switching was assessed prior to the TSST (i.e., pre-TSST), following the TSST (i.e., post-TSST), and following Exercise and Rest interventions (i.e., post-intervention) via pro- (i.e., saccade to veridical target location) and antisaccades (i.e., saccade mirror-symmetrical to target location) arranged in an AABB task-switching paradigm. The underlying principle of the AABB paradigm suggests that when prosaccades are preceded by antisaccades (i.e., task-switch trials), the reaction times are longer compared to their task-repeat counterparts (i.e., unidirectional prosaccade switch-cost). Results As expected, the pre-TSST assessment yielded a prosaccade switch cost. Notably, post-TSST physiological measures indicated a reliable stress response and at this assessment a null prosaccade switch-cost was observed. In turn, post-intervention assessments revealed a switch-cost independent of Exercise and Rest groups. Conclusion Accordingly, the immediate effects of acute stress supported improved task-switching in young adults; however, these benefits were not modulated by a single bout of aerobic exercise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anisa Morava
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Benjamin Tari
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Joshua Ahn
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Mustafa Shirzad
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Matthew Heath
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Kinesiology, 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
| | - Harry Prapavessis
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Kinesiology, 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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Cerebral blood flow and immediate and sustained executive function benefits following single bouts of passive and active exercise. Brain Cogn 2023; 166:105953. [PMID: 36702069 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2023.105953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Passive exercise occurs when an individual's limbs are moved via an external force and is a modality that increases cerebral blood flow (CBF) and provides an immediate postexercise executive function (EF) benefit. To our knowledge, no work has examined for how long passive exercise benefits EF. Here, healthy young adults (N = 22; 7 female) used a cycle ergometer to complete three 20-min conditions: passive exercise (via mechanically driven flywheel), a traditional light intensity (37 W) "active" exercise condition (i.e., via volitional pedalling) and a non-exercise control condition. An estimate of CBF was obtained via transcranial Doppler ultrasound measurement of middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAv) and antisaccades (i.e., saccade mirror-symmetrical to a target) were completed prior to and immediately, 30- and 60-min following each condition to assess EF. Passive and active exercise increased MCAv; however, the increase was larger in the latter condition. In terms of antisaccades, passive and active exercise provided an immediate postexercise reaction time benefit. At the 30-min assessment, the benefit was observed for active but not passive exercise and neither produced a benefit at the 60-min assessment. Thus, passive exercise provided an evanescent EF "boost" and is a finding that may reflect a smaller cortical hemodynamic response.
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Shirzad M, Tari B, Dalton C, Van Riesen J, Marsala MJ, Heath M. Passive exercise increases cerebral blood flow velocity and supports a postexercise executive function benefit. Psychophysiology 2022; 59:e14132. [PMID: 35781673 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Executive function entails high-level cognitive control supporting activities of daily living. Literature has shown that a single-bout of exercise involving volitional muscle activation (i.e., active exercise) improves executive function and that an increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) may contribute to this benefit. It is, however, unknown whether non-volitional exercise (i.e., passive exercise) wherein an individual's limbs are moved via an external force elicits a similar executive function benefit. This is a salient question given that proprioceptive and feedforward drive from passive exercise increases CBF independent of the metabolic demands of active exercise. Here, in a procedural validation participants (n = 2) used a cycle ergometer to complete separate 20-min active and passive (via mechanically driven flywheel) exercise conditions and a non-exercise control condition. Electromyography showed that passive exercise did not increase agonist muscle activation or increase ventilation or gas exchange variables (i.e., V̇O2 and V̇CO2 ). In a main experiment participants (n = 28) completed the same exercise and control conditions and transcranial Doppler ultrasound showed that active and passive exercise (but not the control condition) increased CBF through the middle cerebral artery (ps <.001); albeit the magnitude was less during passive exercise. Notably, antisaccade reaction times prior to and immediately after each condition showed that active (p < .001) and passive (p = .034) exercise improved an oculomotor-based measure of executive function, whereas no benefit was observed in the control condition (p = .85). Accordingly, results evince that passive exercise 'boosts' an oculomotor-based measure of executive function and supports convergent evidence that increased CBF mediates this benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Shirzad
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Benjamin Tari
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Connor Dalton
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - James Van Riesen
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael J Marsala
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Matthew Heath
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
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10
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Tari B, Edgar C, Persaud P, Dalton C, Heath M. The unidirectional prosaccade switch-cost: no evidence for the passive dissipation of an oculomotor task-set inertia. Exp Brain Res 2022; 240:2061-2071. [PMID: 35727365 PMCID: PMC9211787 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-022-06394-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive flexibility is a core component of executive function and supports the ability to ‘switch’ between different tasks. Our group has examined the cost associated with switching between a prosaccade (i.e., a standard task requiring a saccade to veridical target location) and an antisaccade (i.e., a non-standard task requiring a saccade mirror-symmetrical to veridical target) in predictable (i.e., AABB) and unpredictable (e.g., AABAB…) switching paradigms. Results have shown that reaction times (RTs) for a prosaccade preceded by an antisaccade (i.e., task-switch trial) are longer than when preceded by its same task-type (i.e., task-repeat trial), whereas RTs for antisaccade task-switch and task-repeat trials do not differ. The asymmetrical switch-cost has been attributed to an antisaccade task-set inertia that proactively delays a subsequent prosaccade (i.e., the unidirectional prosaccade switch-cost). A salient question arising from previous work is whether the antisaccade task-set inertia passively dissipates or persistently influences prosaccade RTs. Accordingly, participants completed separate AABB (i.e., A = prosaccade, B = antisaccade) task-switching conditions wherein the preparation interval for each trial was ‘short’ (1000–2000 ms; i.e., the timeframe used in previous work), ‘medium’ (3000–4000 ms) and ‘long’ (5000–6000 ms). Results demonstrated a reliable prosaccade switch-cost for each condition (ps < 0.02) and two one-sided test statistics indicated that switch cost magnitudes were within an equivalence boundary (ps < 0.05). Hence, null and equivalence tests demonstrate that an antisaccade task-set inertia does not passively dissipate and represents a temporally persistent feature of oculomotor control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Tari
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON, N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Chloe Edgar
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON, N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Priyanka Persaud
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON, N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Connor Dalton
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON, N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Matthew Heath
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON, N6A 3K7, Canada. .,Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, The University of Western Ontario, 1201 Western Rd, London, ON, N6G 1H1, Canada. .,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON, N6A 3K7, Canada.
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Li Y, Xia X, Yu A, Xu H, Zhang C. Duration of an acute moderate-intensity exercise session affects approach bias toward high-calorie food among individuals with obesity. Appetite 2022; 172:105955. [PMID: 35122877 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2022.105955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Obesity is partly driven by unhealthy eating behaviors underpinned by an approach bias toward high-calorie food. Although exercise is a useful strategy for weight loss among individuals with obesity, whether exercise modulates this approach bias is unclear. This study assessed whether the duration of an acute moderate-intensity exercise altered the approach bias toward high-calorie food among individuals with obesity. In total, 24 individuals with obesity were included in this study with a randomized, counterbalanced, crossover design. Participants completed three sessions of 30, 45, or 60 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise (40%-59% of heart rate reserve) on an elliptical trainer or completed a control rest session for 55 minutes. Food approach bias was evaluated using a joystick-based approach-avoidance task immediately before and after each session. Two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to analyze the data. We found that compared with that before exercise, the approach bias score toward high-calorie food was significantly decreased only in the 45-minute exercise session (p = .015) and that this score was also significantly lower than that after both the 60-minute exercise session (p = .002) and the control session (p = .024). These findings suggest a dose-response relationship between exercise duration and approach bias, with 45 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise being an effective strategy for decreasing the approach bias toward high-calorie food among individuals with obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yansong Li
- School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Xue Xia
- School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Anqi Yu
- Shanghai Dianfeng Institute of Fat Lose, Shanghai, China
| | - Huangmei Xu
- School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunhua Zhang
- School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
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Wang K, Qian J, Yang J, Ge T, Li Z. The mediating roles of demand and satisfaction in formation process of physical exercise habits among college students. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1563. [PMID: 35091575 PMCID: PMC8799640 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05602-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Considering the situation and disadvantages of being physically inactive as well as the nature and advantages of doing physical exercise regularly, there is a need to explore how physical exercise habits are cultivated and formed. The study was to examine the formation process of physical exercise habits. According to the Model of Physical Exercise and Habit, It was speculated that satisfaction, demand or chain from satisfaction to demand could mediate the relationship between physical exercise behavior and physical exercise habit. Cross-sectional design with 3202 college or university students from China was employed. Data about physical exercise habits, physical exercise behaviors as well as related questions was measured by the Self-Report Exercise Habits Index and direct questions. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was constructed to evaluate the mediating effects of demand and/or satisfaction by Asymptotically Distribution-Free and BOOTSTRAP. The inferential statistics was to estimate path coefficient and mediation effect. Findings suggested physical exercise behaviors could develop into physical exercise habits through a direct path, single mediators of demand or satisfaction, or a chain mediator from demand to satisfaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Wang
- Department of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 204 Guangming Hall, NO. 800 Dongchuan Street, Minhang District, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Jiali Qian
- Department of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 204 Guangming Hall, NO. 800 Dongchuan Street, Minhang District, Shanghai, 200240, China.
| | - Jiayi Yang
- Department of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 204 Guangming Hall, NO. 800 Dongchuan Street, Minhang District, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Tianyi Ge
- Department of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 204 Guangming Hall, NO. 800 Dongchuan Street, Minhang District, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Zhizhong Li
- Department of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 204 Guangming Hall, NO. 800 Dongchuan Street, Minhang District, Shanghai, 200240, China
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Evaluating the efficacy of an iPad® app in determining a single bout of exercise benefit to executive function. Behav Res Methods 2021; 54:2398-2408. [PMID: 34918231 PMCID: PMC8676939 DOI: 10.3758/s13428-021-01735-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
We examined the efficacy and feasibility of an iPad® app used at-home in identifying a postexercise benefit to executive function. The iPad® app required simple reaching movements mirror-symmetrical to an exogenously presented target (i.e., antipointing) and is a task that lab-based behavioral and neuroimaging work has shown to provide a valid measure of the response inhibition component of executive function. Fifty English-speaking individuals (18 female, age range 18-26 years of age) completed the iPad® app before and immediately after a 20-min session of heavy-intensity aerobic exercise, and on a separate day completed the app prior to and following a 20-min non-exercise control condition. Results showed antipointing reaction times (RTs) in the exercise condition decreased by an average of 18 ms postexercise (p < 0.001) with an observed large effect size (dz = 0.90), whereas control condition pre- and post-assessment RTs did not reliably differ (p = 0.12, dz = 0.22) and were within an equivalence boundary (p < 0.005). Further, pre-assessment exercise and control condition antipointing RTs were within an equivalence boundary (p < 0.05). Accordingly, a simple iPad® app provides the requisite resolution to detect subtle executive function benefits derived from a single bout of exercise.
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