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Andrushko JW, Rinat S, Greeley B, Larssen BC, Jones CB, Rubino C, Denyer R, Ferris JK, Campbell KL, Neva JL, Boyd LA. Improved processing speed and decreased functional connectivity in individuals with chronic stroke after paired exercise and motor training. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13652. [PMID: 37608062 PMCID: PMC10444837 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40605-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
After stroke, impaired motor performance is linked to an increased demand for cognitive resources. Aerobic exercise improves cognitive function in neurologically intact populations and may be effective in altering cognitive function post-stroke. We sought to determine if high-intensity aerobic exercise paired with motor training in individuals with chronic stroke alters cognitive-motor function and functional connectivity between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), a key region for cognitive-motor processes, and the sensorimotor network. Twenty-five participants with chronic stroke were randomly assigned to exercise (n = 14; 66 ± 11 years; 4 females), or control (n = 11; 68 ± 8 years; 2 females) groups. Both groups performed 5-days of paretic upper limb motor training after either high-intensity aerobic exercise (3 intervals of 3 min each, total exercise duration of 23-min) or watching a documentary (control). Resting-state fMRI, and trail making test part A (TMT-A) and B were recorded pre- and post-intervention. Both groups showed implicit motor sequence learning (p < 0.001); there was no added benefit of exercise for implicit motor sequence learning (p = 0.738). The exercise group experienced greater overall cognitive-motor improvements measured with the TMT-A. Regardless of group, the changes in task score, and dwell time during TMT-A were correlated with a decrease in DLPFC-sensorimotor network functional connectivity (task score: p = 0.025; dwell time: p = 0.043), which is thought to reflect a reduction in the cognitive demand and increased automaticity. Aerobic exercise may improve cognitive-motor processing speed post-stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin W Andrushko
- Brain Behaviour Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Shie Rinat
- Brain Behaviour Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Brian Greeley
- Brain Behaviour Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Beverley C Larssen
- Brain Behaviour Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Christina B Jones
- Brain Behaviour Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Cristina Rubino
- Brain Behaviour Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Ronan Denyer
- Brain Behaviour Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Jennifer K Ferris
- Brain Behaviour Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Kristin L Campbell
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Jason L Neva
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Kinesiology and Physical Activity Sciences, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
- Research Center of the Montreal Geriatrics Institute (CRIUGM), Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Lara A Boyd
- Brain Behaviour Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada.
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada.
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Moriarty T, Johnson A, Thomas M, Evers C, Auten A, Cavey K, Dorman K, Bourbeau K. Acute Aerobic Exercise-Induced Motor Priming Improves Piano Performance and Alters Motor Cortex Activation. Front Psychol 2022; 13:825322. [PMID: 35369225 PMCID: PMC8971979 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.825322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute aerobic exercise has been shown to improve fine motor skills and alter activation of the motor cortex (M1). The intensity of exercise may influence M1 activation, and further impact whole-body motor skill performance. The aims of the current study were to compare a whole-body motor skill via a piano task following moderate-intensity training (MIT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and to determine if M1 activation is linked to any such changes in performance. Nine subjects (seven females and two males), aged 18 ± 1 years completed a control, MIT, and HIIT trial followed by administration of a piano performance task. M1 activation was evaluated by measuring oxyhemoglobin (O2Hb) and hemoglobin difference (Hbdiff) changes during post-exercise piano performance using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The results indicate that piano performance scores were higher after the MIT trial, but not HIIT trial, compared to the control trial. A negative relationship was detected between heart rate during HIIT and post-HIIT piano scores. M1 activation (as measured by Hbdiff) was significantly increased after the HIIT trial. M1 activation was also positively associated with piano performance when exercise trials (HIIT + MIT) and all trials (HIIT + MIT + Control) were combined. We found that acute moderate-intensity exercise led to an improvement in complex motor skill performance while higher-intensity exercise increased M1 activation. These results demonstrate that moderate-intensity exercise can prime the nervous system for the acquisition of whole-body motor skills, suggesting that similar exercise protocols may be effective in improving the outcomes of other motor tasks performed during regular routines of daily life (e.g., sporting tasks, activities of daily living or rehabilitation). In addition, it appears that improvements in motor task performance may be driven by M1 activation. Our findings provide new mechanistic insight into the complex relationship between exercise intensity, M1 activation, and whole-body motor skill performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terence Moriarty
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA, United States
- *Correspondence: Terence Moriarty,
| | - Andrea Johnson
- School of Music, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA, United States
| | - Molly Thomas
- School of Music, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA, United States
| | - Colin Evers
- School of Music, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA, United States
| | - Abi Auten
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA, United States
| | - Kristina Cavey
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA, United States
| | - Katie Dorman
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA, United States
| | - Kelsey Bourbeau
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA, United States
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