Acute effects of exercise posture on executive function in transient ischemic attack patients

Abstract

DisclaimerThe University of Gloucestershire has obtained warranties from all depositors as to their title in the material deposited and as to their right to deposit such material.The University of Gloucestershire makes no representation or warranties of commercial utility, title, or fitness for a particular purpose or any other warranty, express or implied in respect of any material deposited.The University of Gloucestershire makes no representation that the use of the materials will not infringe any patent, copyright, trademark or other property or proprietary rights.The University of Gloucestershire accepts no liability for any infringement of intellectual property rights in any material deposited but will remove such material from public view pending investigation in the event of an allegation of any such infringement. PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR TEXT. 1 ACUTE EFFECTS OF EXERCISE POSTURE ON EXECUTIVE FUNCTION IN TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK PATIENTS AbstractIn patients with stroke or transient ischaemic attacks (TIA), a decline in executive function may limit an individual's ability to process motor tasks and re-learn motor skills. The purpose of this study was to assess the acute effect of exercise posture (seated vs. supine cycle ergometry) on executive function and prefrontal cortex perfusion, in patients with TIA. Eleven TIA patients (65±10y) and 15 age-matched, healthy-controls (HC; 62±7y) completed two graded exercise tests to maximal functional capacity (1 x seated; 1 x supine) and two 30-minute sub-maximal exercise tests (1 x seated, 1 x supine). Executive function was assessed prior-to and following (1.5-min Post, 15-min Post) the submaximal exercise tests using a Stroop Task.Prefrontal cortex perfusion (total hemoglobin) was continuously recorded using near infrared spectroscopy. Group had no significant influence on prefrontal cortex perfusion (P > .05). In conclusion, executive function improves to a similar extent in TIA and age-matched, healthy-controls following an acute bout of exercise, regardless of exercise posture (seated vs. supine). As acute improvements in executive function were maintained for 15 minutes, there could be an important window of opportunity for assigning executive tasks following exercise rehabilitation for patients with TIA.

Effects of acute prolonged sitting on cerebral perfusion and executive function in young adults: A randomized cross‐over trial

“…There is no known data with which to establish a clinically meaningful change in prefrontal cortex tHb. However, CALF resulted in a 2.5 μM decrease in prefrontal cortex tHb, compared to the ~23 μM increase we previously reported, with the same NIRS device, during 30 min of moderate intensity cycling exercise (Faulkner et al, ).…”

“…Additionally, the lack of change in estimated executive function over time may reflect the lack of sensitivity in the Stroop task with this population. We elected to use the Stroop task because it is relatively short, which would minimize mental stimulation during sitting, and it is a classic measure of prefrontal cortex function (MacLeod, ) that has been widely used to assess the effects of acute exercise on cognition (Faulkner et al, , ; Lambrick et al, ). Nonetheless, the young healthy participants in the current study may not have found the Stroop tasks sufficiently challenging.…”

“…Table height was adjusted to place feet flat on the ground with a thigh to calf angle at approximately 90 degrees, which was standardized between trials. To avoid a learned effect, participants practiced the Stroop word and Stroop color tasks until completion time plateaued, as previously reported (Faulkner et al, , ; Lambrick, Stoner, Grigg, & Faulkner, ). Participants also practiced several sets of 10 calf raises at a rate of 0.33 Hz (20 per min), set to a metronome (Pro Metronome, EUMLab, Xanin Tech).…”

“…Executive function was assessed using the Stroop inference test (Xavier Educational Software Ltd., Bangor, UK), a classic measure of prefrontal cortex function (MacLeod, ) that has been widely used to assess the effects of acute exercise on cognition (Faulkner et al, , ; Lambrick et al, ; Lucas et al, ). The Stroop interference test involves four words (blue, yellow, green, red) being randomly presented consecutively on a computer screen.…”

“…However, it should be noted that the Carter et al study investigated the middle cerebral artery, it did not assess whether the prefrontal cortex, a key structure for performing executive functions (Funahashi & Mario, 2013), was adequately perfused. The reverse has been examined; that is, acute exercise has been shown to simultaneously increase both cerebral perfusion and executive function (Faulkner, Lambrick, Kaufmann, & Stoner, 2016;Faulkner et al, 2017;Lambrick, Stoner, Grigg, & Faulkner, 2016;Lucas et al, 2012). However, further study is warranted to determine whether acute exposure to prolonged sitting reduces prefrontal cortex perfusion and executive function.…”