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

Jie Cui; Liye Zou; Fabian Herold; Qian Yu; Can Jiao; Yanjie Zhang; Xinli Chi; Notger G Müller; Stephane Perrey; Lin Li; Chenbo Wang

doi:10.3389/fnhum.2020.569010

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

Front Hum Neurosci. 2020 Oct 6:14:569010. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.569010. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Jie Cui^{1

2}, Liye Zou³, Fabian Herold⁴, Qian Yu³, Can Jiao³, Yanjie Zhang³, Xinli Chi³, Notger G Müller⁴, Stephane Perrey⁵, Lin Li^{1

2}, Chenbo Wang^{6

7}

Affiliations

¹ College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
² Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
³ Exercise and Mental Health Laboratory, School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
⁴ Research Group Neuroprotection, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Magdeburg, Germany.
⁵ EuroMov Digital Health in Motion, Univ Montpellier, IMT Mines Ales, Montpellier, France.
⁶ Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, MOE & STCSM, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
⁷ Institute of Brain and Education Innovation, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Stroop task; acute aerobic exercise; cardiorespiratory fitness; executive function; fMRI.