Pupil Dynamics, Salivary Alpha-Amylase, and Prefrontal Haemodynamics in Response to Very Light Exercise

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2024:1463:359-364. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-67458-7_58.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of exercise on pupil dynamics, prefrontal haemodynamic, and salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) responses in 45 healthy graduate students. These participants were divided into two groups: a resting control group (CTL) and a very-light-intensity exercise group (EX). Participants in the EX-group engaged in a 10-min exercise at 30% O2 peak on a cycle ergometer. Salivary samples and pupillometry assessments were collected before the exercise, at the end of the exercise, and 5 min after the completion to evaluate changes over time. Our analysis showed that exercise induced significant changes in the secretion of salivary alpha-amylase, with elevated levels suggesting increased neuroendocrine activity linked to the arousal state triggered by exercise. In addition, functional oxyHb signals indicated greater fluctuations in the mid-left prefrontal cortex among participants in the EX-group compared to those in the CTL group, pointing to altered prefrontal haemodynamic.

Keywords: Cognitive performance; Color-Word-Interference-Test; Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS); Pupillometry; Stroop test.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Exercise* / physiology
  • Female
  • Hemodynamics* / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prefrontal Cortex* / enzymology
  • Prefrontal Cortex* / metabolism
  • Prefrontal Cortex* / physiology
  • Pupil* / physiology
  • Saliva / enzymology
  • Saliva / metabolism
  • Salivary alpha-Amylases* / metabolism
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Salivary alpha-Amylases