An eight month randomized controlled exercise intervention alters resting state synchrony in overweight children

Abstract

Children with low aerobic fitness have altered brain function compared to higher-fit children. This study examined the effect of an 8-month exercise intervention on resting state synchrony. Twenty-two sedentary, overweight (body mass index ≥ 85th percentile) children 8–11 years old were randomly assigned to one of two after-school programs: aerobic exercise (n=13) or sedentary attention control (n=9). Before and after the 8-month programs, all subjects participated in resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans. Independent components analysis identified several networks, with four chosen for between-group analysis: salience, default mode, cognitive control, and motor networks. The default mode, cognitive control, and motor networks showed more spatial refinement over time in the exercise group compared to controls. The motor network showed increased synchrony in the exercise group with the right medial frontal gyrus compared to controls. Exercise behavior may enhance brain development in children.

Exercise-related changes in between-network connectivity in overweight/obese adults

“…As Voss et al observed increased connectivity within the DMN to be associated with aerobic fitness and improved cognitive function, the present finding could suggest that exercise exerts differential effects on within-network connectivity versus between-network connectivity. Previous studies have posited that network refinement results from both increased within-network connectivity and decreased between-network connectivity [22, 69, 70]. …”

“…For example, following chronic exercise interventions, a small number of studies have observed alterations in functional connectivity within large-scale brain networks, such as the default mode network [21, 22], cognitive control networks [21, 22], and motor networks [22]. Specifically, in normal weight older adults, exercise has been associated with increased functional connectivity within the default mode and cognitive networks [21].…”

“…Specifically, in normal weight older adults, exercise has been associated with increased functional connectivity within the default mode and cognitive networks [21]. In overweight children, exercise has been associated with decreased synchrony within default, cognitive control, and motor networks, suggesting increased network efficiency [22]. As our ability to study brain function has improved, it has become apparent that a more complete understanding of the neurobiology of exercise requires consideration of neuronal activity not only within these large-scale brain networks, but also the transfer of information between them.…”

Altered baseline brain activities before food intake in obese men: A resting state fMRI study

“…ReHo measures the similarity or coherence of low frequency fluctuations of the blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) signal, which might reflect the coherence of spontaneous neuronal activity [14]. The ReHo method has been used to investigate schizophrenia [13], Alzheimer's disease [8], autism spectrum disorders [15] and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) [29]. Abnormal ReHo has been suggested to be potentially related to temporal changes in the baseline or spontaneous brain activities in specific functional brain regions.…”

Society of Behavioral Medicine position statement: elementary school-based physical activity supports academic achievement

“…Regular physical activity improves cognitive function, induces brain changes, and improves mood in children, in addition to improving their aerobic fitness [3][4][5][6][7][8]. Greater aerobic fitness and physical activity are associated cross sectionally with increased grade point averages and standardized test scores [9][10][11].…”