Can exercise shape your brain? A review of aerobic exercise effects on cognitive function and neuro-physiological underpinning mechanisms

Acute effects of a vigorous-intensity warm-up on response suppression and decision-making of football referees

This study investigates the acute effect of physical exercise simulating a standard pre-competitive warm-up on the response suppression and decision-making of football referees. Thirty-four referees (n = 17 - regional level; n = 17 - national level) participated in the study. A Stop-Signal Task (SST) and a decision-making video test were used to evaluate the referees' perceptual-cognitive functions. The findings revealed that the vigorous aerobic exercise acutely impacted basic cognitive functions, as indicated by decreased reaction time and decreased choice accuracy. However, higher-order cognitive functions such as response suppression and decision-making did not exhibit significant changes post-exercise. Based on these results, there is no evidence to suggest that a vigorous-intensity warm-up is likely to favour response suppression and decision-making factors in the initial phases of the game. National referees showed superior response suppression abilities (shorter stop-signal reaction times and lower probability of responding to the stop-signal) than regional referees, indicating that higher-level referees possess enhanced perceptual-cognitive skills, likely influenced by their experience. Further studies are required to determine whether these variables can be acutely improved through physical exercise. In this regard, our results suggest the need for alternative strategies in pre-competitive referee warm-ups if aiming to improve perceptual-cognitive skills in the initial phases of the game.

Effects of aerobic exercise on children's executive function and academic performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

To investigate the effects of exercise on executive function in children, providing an evidence-based foundation to inform future research in school physical education and health education.

Methods

We searched ten databases: Cochrane Library, Scopus, OVID, Web of Science, PubMed, EBSCOhost, SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO, CNKI, WANFANG DATA, VIP, and SinoMed, and eight articles were included. Applying the revised Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for Randomized Trials (RoB2), funnel plots and Egger regression analysis were integrated with R meta-analysis to screen for publication bias. The quality of the evidence was appraised using the Grading system.

Results

The included literature contained 2655 participants, with 1308 in the experimental group and 1347 in the control group. The results indicated that the aerobic exercise group considerably improved inhibitory control in children compared to the control group [SMD = 0.29, 95% CI (0.05, 0.54), P = 0.018]; working memory [SMD = 0.25, 95% CI (0.07, 0.42), P = 0.005]; and cognitive flexibility [SMD = 0.36, 95% CI (0.17, 0.54), P < 0.001]. However, the findings indicated that only aerobic exercise interventions extending beyond 50 weeks positively influenced academic performance in children [SMD = 1.19, 95% CI (0.34, 2.04), P = 0.006]. The results of an Egger regression analysis revealed that the p-values for inhibitory control, working memory, cognitive flexibility, and academic performance were more significant than 0.1. The Grade system said that the quality of evidence was all low regarding the level of evidence.

Conclusion

Aerobic exercise enhanced executive function but only aerobic exercise interventions extending beyond 50 weeks demonstrated a significant effect on the academic performance of children. Due to the low quality of evidence presented in this study, additional high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings.

The Effects of Single-Bout Exercise Interventions with Different Exercise Modalities on Executive Function in Youths

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate how single-bout open-skill exercise (OSE), closed-skill exercise (CSE), and mixed-skill exercise intervention (MSE) influence executive function.

METHOD

A total of 120 students aged between 18 and 25 were separated into three groups: closed-skill exercise, open-skill exercise, and mixed-skill exercise. A task-switching test was performed before and after a single bout of exercise intervention. The simple reaction time, choice reaction time, switch cost, and correction rate were tested in a task-switching test. The results were analyzed via a two-way analysis of variance, with a significance level of α = 0.05, to compare the effects of the intervention.

RESULTS

Only open-skill exercise exhibited a significant effect on the simple reaction time (p < 0.05). In terms of choice reaction time and switch cost, all three intervention groups exhibited significant improvements, with no significant differences observed between the three groups (p < 0.05). The correction rate did not show a significant effect post-intervention, and no significant differences were observed between the groups. The correction rate showed no significant effect after the intervention or between groups.

CONCLUSION

All three types of exercise can shorten choice reaction time and switch cost, but only OSE can reduce simple reaction time.

Adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) controls central nervous system and promotes peripheral nervous system regeneration via physical exercise

Physical exercise has beneficial effects on adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) and cognitive processes, including learning. Although it is not known if anaerobic resistance training and high-intensity interval training, which involve alternating brief bouts of highly intense anaerobic activity with rest periods, have comparable effects on AHN. Also, while less thoroughly investigated, individual genetic diversity in the overall response to physical activity is likely to play a key role in the effects of exercise on AHN. Physical exercise has been shown to improve health on average, although the benefits may vary from person to person, perhaps due to genetic differences. Maximal aerobic capacity and metabolic health may improve significantly with aerobic exercise for some people, while the same amount of training may have little effect on others. This review discusses the AHN's capability for peripheral nervous system (PNS) regeneration and central nervous system (CNS) control via physical exercise. Exercise neurogenicity, effective genes, growth factors, and the neurotrophic factors involved in PNS regeneration and CNS control were discussed. Also, some disorders that could be affected by AHN and physical exercise are summarized.

The role of inhibitory control in sport performance: Systematic review and meta-analysis in stop-signal paradigm

Inhibitory control is an executive function that is closely and bidirectionally related to sports practice. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to study the effect of this relationship when response suppression is assessed within the Stop-Signal Paradigm. Twenty-four articles met the inclusion criteria and were selected for qualitative analysis, of which 11 studies were further analyzed through meta-analytic techniques. The standardized mean difference (SMD) was estimated for the stop-signal reaction time, and the influence of moderator variables was assessed. Athletes showed shorter stop-signal reaction time than non-athlete controls (SMD=0.44; 95% CI=0.14, 0.73), and this effect was mediated by age (SMD=-0.56; 95% CI=-1.11, -0.01). Athletes' superior stop-signal reaction time may be a result of extensive practice in cognitively demanding competitive environments. Young athletes can benefit the most from sports practice. In addition, engaging individuals in more cognitively demanding activities may obtain better response suppression enhancements, although the evidence in the stop-signal task is limited. Finally, some stop-signal task methodological aspects should be considered in future research.

Antioxidant Molecular Brain Changes Parallel Adaptive Cardiovascular Response to Forced Running in Mice

Physically active lifestyle has huge implications for the health and well-being of people of all ages. However, excessive training can lead to severe cardiovascular events such as heart fibrosis and arrhythmia. In addition, strenuous exercise may impair brain plasticity. Here we investigate the presence of any deleterious effects induced by chronic high-intensity exercise, although not reaching exhaustion. We analyzed cardiovascular, cognitive, and cerebral molecular changes in young adult male mice submitted to treadmill running for eight weeks at moderate or high-intensity regimens compared to sedentary mice. Exercised mice showed decreased weight gain, which was significant for the high-intensity group. Exercised mice showed cardiac hypertrophy but with no signs of hemodynamic overload. No morphological changes in the descending aorta were observed, either. High-intensity training induced a decrease in heart rate and an increase in motor skills. However, it did not impair recognition or spatial memory, and, accordingly, the expression of hippocampal and cerebral cortical neuroplasticity markers was maintained. Interestingly, proteasome enzymatic activity increased in the cerebral cortex of all trained mice, and catalase expression was significantly increased in the high-intensity group; both first-line mechanisms contribute to maintaining redox homeostasis. Therefore, physical exercise at an intensity that induces adaptive cardiovascular changes parallels increases in antioxidant defenses to prevent brain damage.