A Short-Term Intervention of High-Intensity Exercise and Anodal-tDCS on Motor Learning in Middle-Aged Adults: An RCT

Abstract

High-intensity exercise has enhanced motor learning in healthy young adults. Anodal-transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) may optimize these effects. This study aimed to determine the effects of a short-term high-intensity interval exercise intervention either with or without a-tDCS on the learning and retention of a novel motor task in middle-aged adults. Forty-two healthy middle-aged adults (age = 44.6 ± 6.3, female = 76%) were randomized into three groups: exercise and active a-tDCS, exercise and sham a-tDCS, and a non-exercise and sham a-tDCS control. Participants completed a baseline testing session, followed by three intervention sessions 48-h apart. The exercise groups completed 20-min of high-intensity exercise followed by a novel sequential visual isometric pinch task (SVIPT) while receiving 20-min of 1.5 mA a-tDCS, or sham tDCS. The control group completed 20-min of reading before receiving sham a-tDCS during the SVIPT. Learning was assessed by skill change within and between intervention sessions. Participants returned 5–7 days after the final intervention session and performed the SVIPT task to assess retention. All three groups showed evidence of learning on the SVIPT task. Neither group displayed enhanced overall learning or retention when compared to the control group. High-intensity exercise with or without a-tDCS did not improve learning or retention of a novel motor task in middle-aged adults. The methodological framework provides direction for future research to investigate the potential of differing exercise intensity effects on learning and retention.

A single bout of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise improves motor learning in premanifest and early Huntington’s disease

“…Alternatively, given the improvement seen in the exercise group during acquisition, another possible explanation is that the exercise group reached a ceiling of improvement on the SVIPT task, which resulted in reduced opportunity for offline consolidation effects over and above that seen during acquisition. However, ceiling effects are unlikely because the SVIPT has previously been used in multi-day training studies ( Reis et al, 2009 , 2015 ; Quinlan et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Previous studies investigating the effects of exercise on motor learning in healthy samples have found effects from a single bout. Studies of healthy young adults have indicated benefits of an acute bout of high-intensity exercise on both motor skill acquisition ( Mang et al, 2014 ) and consolidation ( Roig et al, 2012 ; Skriver et al, 2014 ; Stavrinos and Coxon, 2017 ), [although not all, see for example: Pixa et al (2021) , Quinlan et al (2021) ]. In some healthy young adult studies, moderate-intensity exercise has also been shown to facilitate motor learning.…”

Examining the Effect of Increased Aerobic Exercise in Moderately Fit Adults on Psychological State and Cognitive Function

“…Here, we show that increasing aerobic exercise in middle-aged individuals with a previous exercise regimen can confer additional affective state improvements beyond maintaining an exercise regimen. Though the majority of studies have focused on younger or older populations (Reed and Ones, 2006 ; Chang et al, 2012 ; Hogan et al, 2013 ) and newer research has focused on middle-aged populations (Chen et al, 2019 ; Quinlan et al, 2021 ), our work is some of the first longitudinal exercise research in middle-aged adults. These beneficial effects on affective state are in part thought to be due to exercise-induced increases in neurotrophins and neuromodulators including dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, endocannabinoids, and endogenous opioids (Dietrich and McDaniel, 2004 ; Fuss and Gass, 2010 ; Lin and Kuo, 2013 ; Siebers et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Most studies examining the effects of long-term exercise on brain health have been conducted in either children or low fit, elderly populations. Few studies have examined the effects of exercising on psychological state and cognitive health in healthy, moderately fit adults (but see Chen et al, 2019 ; Quinlan et al, 2021 ). In addition, many longitudinal exercise studies examining cognitive functioning are not always focused on increasing cardiorespiratory fitness (VO 2 max) levels (Smiley-Oyen et al, 2008 ; Ruscheweyh et al, 2011 ).…”