The Contribution of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging to the Understanding of the Effects of Acute Physical Exercise on Cognition

A single bout of aerobic exercise does not alter inhibitory control preparatory set cerebral hemodynamics: Evidence from the antisaccade task

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.

Increased neural differentiation after a single session of aerobic exercise in older adults

Aging is associated with decreased cognitive function. One theory posits that this decline is in part due to multiple neural systems becoming dedifferentiated in older adults. Exercise is known to improve cognition in older adults, even after only a single session. We hypothesized that one mechanism of improvement is a redifferentiation of neural systems. We used a within-participant, cross-over design involving 2 sessions: either 30 minutes of aerobic exercise or 30 minutes of seated rest (n = 32; ages 55-81 years). Both functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and Stroop performance were acquired soon after exercise and rest. We quantified neural differentiation via general heterogeneity regression. There were 3 prominent findings following the exercise. First, participants were better at reducing Stroop interference. Second, while there was greater neural differentiation within the hippocampal formation and cerebellum, there was lower neural differentiation within frontal cortices. Third, this greater neural differentiation in the cerebellum and temporal lobe was more pronounced in the older ages. These data suggest that exercise can induce greater neural differentiation in healthy aging.

Neurobiological effects of exercise intervention for premenstrual syndrome

Background

Up to 75%-90% of women have varying degrees of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Exercises are recognized to be beneficial to regulate the negative emotions associated with PMS; however, the effects of exercise on sadness inhibition have not yet been investigated from the neurobiological perspective.

Purpose

This study examined the effects of a single exercise intervention on the neural mechanisms mediating sadness response inhibition at the cortical level using multichannel event-related potential (ERP) recording in women with PMS.

Methods

Participants performed Go/No-go trials while viewing of sad or neutral images before and after exercise intervention, and changes in the No-go-evoked N200 (N2) ERP component were measured by electroencephalography (EEG) at multiple cortical sites. The associations of PMS Inventory scores with N2 amplitude and latency changes were then examined using Pearson's correlation analysis.

Results

There were no significant differences in N2 latency and response error rate following exercise compared to baseline. However, women with higher PMS Inventory scores (greater symptom severity) demonstrated significantly lengthen N2 latency at the Fz electrode sites during correct sad face No-go trials after exercise (p < 0.05), which was not the case in the pre-exercise baseline. We detected no significant relationship between the PMS score and N2 amplitude, either pre- or post-exercise.

Conclusion

Women with higher PMS severity exhibited longer sad N2 latencies as well as slow down the speed of reaction to negative stimuli by exercise, suggesting that the prefrontal emotion regulation network is involved in PMS symptoms and is sensitive to the beneficial effects of exercise.

Effects of acute physical activity on brain metabolites as measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in humans: A systematic review

Physical activity (PA) promotes brain health in a variety of domains including cognition, mood, and neuroplasticity. At the neurochemical level, the mechanisms underlying these effects in the brain are not fully understood. With proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-MRS), it is possible to non-invasively quantify metabolite concentrations, enabling studies to obtain measures of exercise-induced neurochemical changes. This systematic review aimed to examine the existing literature on acute effects of PA on brain metabolites as measured by 1H-MRS. Four databases (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO) were searched, identifying 2965 studies, of which 9 met the inclusion criteria. Across studies, Gamma-AminoButyric Acid (GABA) and lactate tended to increase after exercise, while no significant changes in choline were reported. For glutamine/glutamate (Glx), studies were inconclusive. Conclusions were limited by the lack of consensus on 1H-MRS data processing and exercise protocols. To reduce inter-study differences, future studies are recommended to (1): apply a standardized exercise index (2), consider the onset time of MRS scans, and (3) follow standardized MRS quantification methods.

Distinct cortical haemodynamics during squat-stand and continuous aerobic exercise do not influence the magnitude of a postexercise executive function benefit

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.

Look into my eyes: What can eye-based measures tell us about the relationship between physical activity and cognitive performance?

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.

Move Your Body, Boost Your Brain: The Positive Impact of Physical Activity on Cognition across All Age Groups

While the physical improvements from exercise have been well documented over the years, the impact of physical activity on mental health has recently become an object of interest. Physical exercise improves cognition, particularly attention, memory, and executive functions. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects have yet to be fully understood. Consequently, we conducted a narrative literature review concerning the association between acute and chronic physical activity and cognition to provide an overview of exercise-induced benefits during the lifetime of a person. Most previous papers mainly reported exercise-related greater expression of neurotransmitter and neurotrophic factors. Recently, structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging techniques allowed for the detection of increased grey matter volumes for specific brain regions and substantial modifications in the default mode, frontoparietal, and dorsal attention networks following exercise. Here, we highlighted that physical activity induced significant changes in functional brain activation and cognitive performance in every age group and could counteract psychological disorders and neural decline. No particular age group gained better benefits from exercise, and a specific exercise type could generate better cognitive improvements for a selected target subject. Further research should develop appropriate intervention programs concerning age and comorbidity to achieve the most significant cognitive outcomes.

A single bout of passive exercise mitigates a mental fatigue-induced inhibitory control deficit

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.

A novel method for efficient estimation of brain effective connectivity in EEG

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Brain connectivity plays a pivotal role in understanding the brain's information processing functions by providing various details including magnitude, direction, and temporal dynamics of inter-neuron connections. While the connectivity may be classified as structural, functional and causal, a complete in-vivo directional analysis is guaranteed by the latter and is referred to as Effective Connectivity (EC). Two most widely used EC techniques are Directed Transfer Function (DTF) and Partial Directed Coherence (PDC) which are based on multivariate autoregressive models. The drawbacks of these techniques include poor frequency resolution and the requirement for experimental approach to determine signal normalization and thresholding techniques in identifying significant connectivities between multivariate sources.

METHODS

In this study, the drawbacks of DTF and PDC are addressed by proposing a novel technique, termed as Efficient Effective Connectivity (EEC), for the estimation of EC between multivariate sources using AR spectral estimation and Granger causality principle. In EEC, a linear predictive filter with AR coefficients obtained via multivariate EEG is used for signal prediction. This leads to the estimation of full-length signals which are then transformed into frequency domain by using Burg spectral estimation method. Furthermore, the newly proposed normalization method addressed the effect on each source in EEC using the sum of maximum connectivity values over the entire frequency range. Lastly, the proposed dynamic thresholding works by subtracting the first moment of causal effects of all the sources on one source from individual connections present for that source.

RESULTS

The proposed method is evaluated using synthetic and real resting-state EEG of 46 healthy controls. A 3D-Convolutional Neural Network is trained and tested using the PDC and EEC samples. The result indicates that compared to PDC, EEC improves the EEG eye-state classification accuracy, sensitivity and specificity by 5.57%, 3.15% and 8.74%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Correct identification of all connections in synthetic data and improved resting-state classification performance using EEC proved that EEC gives better estimation of directed causality and indicates that it can be used for reliable understanding of brain mechanisms. Conclusively, the proposed technique may open up new research dimensions for clinical diagnosis of mental disorders.

Exercise as therapy for neurodevelopmental and cognitive dysfunction in people with a Fontan circulation: A narrative review

People with a Fontan circulation are at risk of neurodevelopmental delay and disability, and cognitive dysfunction, that has significant implications for academic and occupational attainment, psychosocial functioning, and overall quality of life. Interventions for improving these outcomes are lacking. This review article discusses current intervention practices and explores the evidence supporting exercise as a potential intervention for improving cognitive functioning in people living with a Fontan circulation. Proposed pathophysiological mechanisms underpinning these associations are discussed in the context of Fontan physiology and avenues for future research are recommended.

Shared brain and genetic architectures between mental health and physical activity

Physical activity is correlated with, and effectively treats various forms of psychopathology. However, whether biological correlates of physical activity and psychopathology are shared remains unclear. Here, we examined the extent to which the neural and genetic architecture of physical activity and mental health are shared. Using data from the UK Biobank (N = 6389), we applied canonical correlation analysis to estimate associations between the amplitude and connectivity strength of subnetworks of three major neurocognitive networks (default mode, DMN; salience, SN; central executive networks, CEN) with accelerometer-derived measures of physical activity and self-reported mental health measures (primarily of depression, anxiety disorders, neuroticism, subjective well-being, and risk-taking behaviors). We estimated the genetic correlation between mental health and physical activity measures, as well as putative causal relationships by applying linkage disequilibrium score regression, genomic structural equational modeling, and latent causal variable analysis to genome-wide association summary statistics (GWAS N = 91,105-500,199). Physical activity and mental health were associated with connectivity strength and amplitude of the DMN, SN, and CEN (r's ≥ 0.12, p's < 0.048). These neural correlates exhibited highly similar loading patterns across mental health and physical activity models even when accounting for their shared variance. This suggests a largely shared brain network architecture between mental health and physical activity. Mental health and physical activity (including sleep) were also genetically correlated (|rg| = 0.085-0.121), but we found no evidence for causal relationships between them. Collectively, our findings provide empirical evidence that mental health and physical activity have shared brain and genetic architectures and suggest potential candidate subnetworks for future studies on brain mechanisms underlying beneficial effects of physical activity on mental health.

Effect of acute physical exercise on inhibitory control in young adults: High-intensity indoor cycling session

There is growing evidence that physical exercise (PE) may boost cognitive performance. However, criteria regarding PE intensity, duration, and frequency are still being studied. We hypothesize that high PE intensities have effects on inhibitory control. For this reason, our aim was to study the effect of acute PE on IC in healthy young students of a bachelor's degree in physical education and exercise via a 20-minute indoor cycling session at 80-90% HRmax intensity. We devised an experimental group design (n = 9) relative to a control group (n = 10) with pre-and-post-test IC measures. A Stroop task (two conditions) was administered to undergraduate students (Mage = 23.3, SD = 1.6) of a bachelor's degree program in Physical Education and Sports Sciences from a public university in Colombia. The computed MANOVA did not show an interaction effect between the experimental task of Stroop A-B x measure x group. However, a main effect of reduced response time was obtained after PE in the experimental group. Other main effects were observed in the number of correct and incorrect trials in the Stroop-B condition. The experimental group showed fewer correct answers after PE, and the control group showed fewer errors. It is concluded that high-intensity PE confers favorable effects on inhibitory control.

The Neural Mechanism of Long-Term Motor Training Affecting Athletes’ Decision-Making Function: An Activation Likelihood Estimation Meta-Analysis

Decision-making is an advanced cognitive function that promotes information processes in complex motor situations. In recent years, many neuroimaging studies have assessed the effects of long-term motor training on athletes’ brain activity while performing decision-making tasks, but the findings have been inconsistent and a large amount of data has not been quantitatively summarized until now. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the neural mechanism of long-term motor training affecting the decision-making function of athletes by using activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis. Altogether, 10 studies were included and comprised a total of 350 people (168 motor experts and 182 novices, 411 activation foci). The ALE meta-analysis showed that more brain regions were activated for novices including the bilateral occipital lobe, left posterior cerebellar lobe, and left middle temporal gyrus (MTG) in decision-making tasks compared to motor experts. Our results possibly suggested the association between long-term motor training and neural efficiency in athletes, which provided a reference for further understanding the neural mechanisms of motor decision-making.

Comparing cognition, coping skills and vedic personality of individuals practicing yoga, physical exercise or sedentary lifestyle: a cross-sectional fMRI study

BACKGROUND

Nature and intensity of physical activity may influence cognition, coping mechanisms and overall personality of an individual. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to compare cognition, coping styles and vedic personality among individuals practicing different lifestyle.

METHODS

Thirty-nine healthy young adults of both gender (27.63±4.04 years) were recruited and categorized into three groups; i.e. yoga, physical activity or sedentary lifestyle groups. Participants were assessed on cognition, coping styles and Vedic personality inventory (VPI). Verbal-n-back and Stroop tasks were performed using 3 Tesla MRI scanner. Task Based Connectivity (TBC) analysis was done using CONN toolbox in SPM.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in the cognitive domains across the groups. The planning (p=0.03) and acceptance domain (p=0.03) of the Brief COPE scale showed difference across the groups. Post-hoc analysis revealed that planning and acceptance scores were distinctly higher in the physical activity group, however, there was no difference between physical activity group and yoga practitioners. Similarly, in the VPI, Sattva (p=0.003), Rajas (p=0.05) and Tamas (p=0.01) were different across the groups, and the post hoc analysis showed superiority in Sattva scores in Yoga group, meanwhile, both Rajas and Tamas were higher in the physical activity group. Yoga practitioners preferentially recruited left Superior Frontal Gyrus in relation to the physically active group and precuneus in relation to the sedentary lifestyle group.

CONCLUSION

The study revealed that yoga practitioners had a distinct higher sattva guna and preferentially recruited brain areas associated with self-regulation and inhibitory control.

The Influence of Acute Sprint Interval Training on Cognitive Performance of Healthy Younger Adults

There is considerable evidence showing that an acute bout of physical exercises can improve cognitive performance, but the optimal exercise characteristics (e.g., exercise type and exercise intensity) remain elusive. In this regard, there is a gap in the literature to which extent sprint interval training (SIT) can enhance cognitive performance. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of a time-efficient SIT, termed as "shortened-sprint reduced-exertion high-intensity interval training" (SSREHIT), on cognitive performance. Nineteen healthy adults aged 20-28 years were enrolled and assessed for attentional performance (via the d2 test), working memory performance (via Digit Span Forward/Backward), and peripheral blood lactate concentration immediately before and 10 min after an SSREHIT and a cognitive engagement control condition (i.e., reading). We observed that SSREHIT can enhance specific aspects of attentional performance, as it improved the percent error rate (F%) in the d-2 test (t (18) = -2.249, p = 0.037, d = -0.516), which constitutes a qualitative measure of precision and thoroughness. However, SSREHIT did not change other measures of attentional or working memory performance. In addition, we observed that the exercise-induced increase in the peripheral blood lactate levels correlated with changes in attentional performance, i.e., the total number of responses (GZ) (rm = 0.70, p < 0.001), objective measures of concentration (SKL) (rm = 0.73, p < 0.001), and F% (rm = -0.54, p = 0.015). The present study provides initial evidence that a single bout of SSREHIT can improve specific aspects of attentional performance and conforming evidence for a positive link between cognitive improvements and changes in peripheral blood lactate levels.

The Motor Engram of Functional Connectivity Generated by Acute Whole-Body Dynamic Balance Training

Purpose

Whole-body dynamic balance is necessary for both athletic activities and activities of daily living. This study aimed to investigate the effect of acute dynamic balance training on neural networks.

Methods

We evaluated resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC), white matter fiber density, fiber-bundle cross-section, and gray matter volume in 28 healthy young adults (14 women) before and after 30 min of slackline training using a randomized, counterbalanced crossover design.

Results

The rs-FC between the left lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the foot area of the primary sensorimotor (SM1) cortex increased significantly after slackline training compared with that after a control condition involving ergometer-based aerobic exercise. In addition, changes in rs-FC between the left lateral PFC and the primary sensorimotor were correlated with performance changes after training (i.e., offline process) rather than online learning. We also observed a main effect of time between the hippocampus and the cingulate cortex, including the anterior areas, and between the bilateral lateral PFC. Although we observed no structural changes, fiber density in the commissural fiber pathway before the first balance assessment was correlated with initial balance capability.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate that acute whole-body dynamic balance training alters specific rs-FC, and that this change is associated with performance changes after training. In addition, rs-FC changes in cognitive regions were modulated by both acute dynamic balance training and aerobic exercise. These findings have the potential to influence various fields (e.g., sports neuroscience, neurorehabilitation) and may aid in the development of methods that can improve motor and cognitive performance.

Higher VO2max is associated with thicker cortex and lower grey matter blood flow in older adults

VO₂max (maximal oxygen consumption), a validated measure of aerobic fitness, has been associated with better cerebral artery compliance and measures of brain morphology, such as higher cortical thickness (CT) in frontal, temporal and cingular cortices, and larger grey matter volume (GMV) of the middle temporal gyrus, hippocampus, orbitofrontal cortex and cingulate cortex. Single sessions of physical exercise can promptly enhance cognitive performance and brain activity during executive tasks. However, the immediate effects of exercise on macro-scale properties of the brain’s grey matter remain unclear. We investigated the impact of one session of moderate-intensity physical exercise, compared with rest, on grey matter volume, cortical thickness, working memory performance, and task-related brain activity in older adults. Cross-sectional associations between brain measures and VO₂max were also tested. Exercise did not induce statistically significant changes in brain activity, grey matter volume, or cortical thickness. Cardiovascular fitness, measured by VO₂max, was associated with lower grey matter blood flow in the left hippocampus and thicker cortex in the left superior temporal gyrus. Cortical thickness was reduced at post-test independent of exercise/rest. Our findings support that (1) fitter individuals may need lower grey matter blood flow to meet metabolic oxygen demand, and (2) have thicker cortex.

Causes and Consequences of Interindividual Response Variability: A Call to Apply a More Rigorous Research Design in Acute Exercise-Cognition Studies

The different responses of humans to an apparently equivalent stimulus are called interindividual response variability. This phenomenon has gained more and more attention in research in recent years. The research field of exercise-cognition has also taken up this topic, as shown by a growing number of studies published in the past decade. In this perspective article, we aim to prompt the progress of this research field by (i) discussing the causes and consequences of interindividual variability, (ii) critically examining published studies that have investigated interindividual variability of neurocognitive outcome parameters in response to acute physical exercises, and (iii) providing recommendations for future studies, based on our critical examination. The provided recommendations, which advocate for a more rigorous study design, are intended to help researchers in the field to design studies allowing them to draw robust conclusions. This, in turn, is very likely to foster the development of this research field and the practical application of the findings.

The Effect of Acute Aerobic Exercise on Divergent and Convergent Thinking and Its Influence by Mood

Abundant evidence shows that various forms of physical exercise, even conducted briefly, may improve cognitive functions. However, the effect of physical exercise on creative thinking remains under-investigated, and the role of mood in this effect remains unclear. In the present study, we set out to investigate the effect of an acute bout of aerobic exercise on divergent and convergent thinking and whether this effect depends on the post-exercise mood. Forty healthy young adults were randomly assigned to receive a 15-min exercise or control intervention, before and after which they conducted an alternate use test measuring divergent thinking and an insight problem-solving task measuring convergent thinking. It was found that exercise enhanced divergent thinking in that it increased flexibility and fluency. Importantly, these effects were not mediated by the post-exercise mood in terms of pleasure and vigor. In contrast, the effect on convergent thinking depended on subjects' mood after exercise: subjects reporting high vigor tended to solve more insight problems that were unsolved previously, while those reporting low vigor became less capable of solving previously unsolved problems. These findings suggest that aerobic exercise may affect both divergent and convergent thinking, with the former being mood-independent and the latter mood-dependent. If these findings can be replicated with more rigorous studies, engaging in a bout of mood, particularly vigor-enhancing aerobic exercise, may be considered a useful strategy for gaining insights into previously unsolved problems.

Cognitive benefits of exercise interventions: an fMRI activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis

Despite a growing number of functional MRI studies reporting exercise-induced changes during cognitive processing, a systematic determination of the underlying neurobiological pathways is currently lacking. To this end, our neuroimaging meta-analysis included 20 studies and investigated the influence of physical exercise on cognition-related functional brain activation. The overall meta-analysis encompassing all experiments revealed physical exercise-induced changes in the left parietal lobe during cognitive processing. Subgroup analysis further revealed that in the younger-age group (< 35 years old) physical exercise induced more widespread changes in the right hemisphere, whereas in the older-age group (≥ 35 years old) exercise-induced changes were restricted to the left parietal lobe. Subgroup analysis for intervention duration showed that shorter exercise interventions induced changes in regions connected with frontoparietal and default mode networks, whereas regions exhibiting effects of longer interventions connected with frontoparietal and dorsal attention networks. Our findings suggest that physical exercise interventions lead to changes in functional activation patterns primarily located in precuneus and associated with frontoparietal, dorsal attention and default mode networks.

Acute aerobic exercise enhances cortical connectivity between structures involved in shaping mood and improves self-reported mood: An EEG effective-connectivity study in young male adults

There seems to be a general consensus among researchers that acute aerobic exercise (exercise hereafter) improves mood, but the neural mechanisms which drive these effects are far from being clear. The current study investigated the cortical connectivity patterns that underlie changes in mood after exercise. Twenty male adults underwent three different experimental protocols that were carefully controlled in terms of underlying metabolism and were administered in a randomized order: moderate-intensity continuous exercise, high-intensity interval exercise, and seated rest condition. Before and after each experimental protocol, we collected data on the participants' mood using the UMACL questionnaire and recorded their resting-state EEG. We focused on the effective connectivity patterns exerted by the dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) over the temporal region (TMP), as these are important cortical structures involved in shaping mood. The cortical connectivity patterns in the resting-state EEG were evaluated using the directed transfer function (DTF), which is an autoregressive effective connectivity method. The results showed that both moderate-intensity exercise and high-intensity interval exercise improved participants' self-reported mood. Crucially, this improvement was accompanied by stronger influences of dlPFC over TMP. The observed changes in the effective connectivity patterns between dlPFC and TMP might help to better understand the effects of exercise on mood.

Does Cardiorespiratory Fitness Influence the Effect of Acute Aerobic Exercise on Executive Function?

Background

The beneficial effects of acute exercise on executive function have been well-documented, but the influence of cardiorespiratory fitness on this effect requires further investigations, especially using imaging technique. This study aimed to examine the effects of cardiorespiratory fitness on acute exercise-induced changes on behavioral performance and on functional brain activation.

Method

Based on their cardiorespiratory fitness level, 62 participants ranked in the top and bottom of the maximum oxygen consumption (VO₂ max) were finally selected and allocated to high-fit group or low-fit group. Both groups were asked to complete the Stroop task after 30 min of aerobic exercise and chair-seated rest (control session). Among them, 26 participants were randomly selected and asked to undergo the Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI).

Results

Behavioral results showed that individuals responded significantly faster after exercise than those in the control session. The fMRI results revealed a significant interaction effects of Group by Session in brain regions including anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and bilateral dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). For the ACC, activation in the high-fit group was significantly decreased after aerobic exercise compared to those in the control session; whereas an increased activation was noticed in the low-fit group. Regarding to the bilateral DLPFC, activation in high-fit group was significantly decreased after exercise compared to those in the control session, while no significant differences were found in the low-fit group. In addition, for the post-exercise session, a significant positive correlations between activation of the ACC and left DLPFC in the high-fit group was observed. There was a significant negative correlation between activation of the ACC and reaction time in the congruent condition after exercise in the low-fit group.

Conclusion

Findings further clarify the neurophysiological processes of acute exercise-induced changes in cognitive performance as they suggest that cardiorespiratory fitness is an important factor which influences changes in brain activation patterns in response to acute aerobic exercises.

Potential role of primed microglia during obesity on the mesocorticolimbic circuit in autism spectrum disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disease which involves functional and structural defects in selective central nervous system (CNS) regions that harm function and individual ability to process and respond to external stimuli. Individuals with ASD spend less time engaging in social interaction compared to non-affected subjects. Studies employing structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging reported morphological and functional abnormalities in the connectivity of the mesocorticolimbic reward pathway between the nucleus accumbens and the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in response to social stimuli, as well as diminished medial prefrontal cortex in response to visual cues, whereas stronger reward system responses for the non-social realm (e.g., video games) than social rewards (e.g., approval), associated with caudate nucleus responsiveness in ASD children. Defects in the mesocorticolimbic reward pathway have been modulated in transgenic murine models using D2 dopamine receptor heterozygous (D2+/-) or dopamine transporter knockout mice, which exhibit sociability deficits and repetitive behaviors observed in ASD phenotypes. Notably, the mesocorticolimbic reward pathway is modulated by systemic and central inflammation, such as primed microglia, which occurs during obesity or maternal overnutrition. Therefore, we propose that a positive energy balance during obesity/maternal overnutrition coordinates a systemic and central inflammatory crosstalk that modulates the dopaminergic neurotransmission in selective brain areas of the mesocorticolimbic reward pathway. Here, we will describe how obesity/maternal overnutrition may prime microglia, causing abnormalities in dopamine neurotransmission of the mesocorticolimbic reward pathway, postulating a possible immune role in the development of ASD.

What Has Neuroimaging Taught Us on the Neurobiology of Yoga? A Review

Yoga is becoming increasingly popular worldwide, with several implicated physical and mental benefits. Here we provide a comprehensive and critical review of the research generated from the existing neuroimaging literature in studies of yoga practitioners. We reviewed 34 international peer-reviewed neuroimaging studies of yoga using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), or single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT): 11 morphological and 26 functional studies, including three studies that were classified as both morphological and functional. Consistent findings include increased gray matter volume in the insula and hippocampus, increased activation of prefrontal cortical regions, and functional connectivity changes mainly within the default mode network. There is quite some variability in the neuroimaging findings that partially reflects different yoga styles and approaches, as well as sample size limitations. Direct comparator groups such as physical activity are scarcely used so far. Finally, hypotheses on the underlying neurobiology derived from the imaging findings are discussed in the light of the potential beneficial effects of yoga.

A Discussion on Different Approaches for Prescribing Physical Interventions - Four Roads Lead to Rome, but Which One Should We Choose?

It is well recognized that regular physical exercise has positive effects on physical and mental health. To use the beneficial health effects of physical exercise, there are worldwide movements encouraging health care providers to include physical exercise in their care and treatments strategies. However, a crucial point in administering the "exercise polypill" is the dosing and, in turn, the prescription of the physical intervention (PI). In this perspective article, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches to prescribe PI. In this context, we also highlight outstanding questions and potential areas of opportunity for further investigations.

Effects of acute cardiovascular exercise on motor memory encoding and consolidation: A systematic review with meta-analysis

Emerging evidence indicates that acute bouts of cardiovascular exercise promote motor memory formation. In this preregistered meta-analysis (CRD42018106288) we synthesize data from 22 studies published until February 2020, including a total of 862 participants. We calculated standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) to assess exercise effects on motor memory encoding and consolidation, respectively. The pooled data indicate that exercise mainly benefits the consolidation of memories, with exercise prior to motor practice improving early non-sleep consolidation (SMD, 0.58; 95 % CI, 0.30-0.86; p < 0.001), and post-practice exercise facilitating sleep-dependent consolidation (SMD, 0.62; 95 % CI, 0.34-0.90; p < 0.001). Strongest effects exist for high exercise intensities, and motor task nature appears to be another relevant modulator. We demonstrate that acute cardiovascular exercise particularly promotes the consolidation of acquired motor memories, and exercise timing, and intensity as well as motor task nature seem to critically modulate this relationship. These findings are discussed within currently proposed models of motor memory formation and considering molecular and systemic mechanisms of neural plasticity.