Effects of Acute High-Intensity Resistance Exercise on Cognitive Function and Oxygenation in Prefrontal Cortex

Abstract

[Purpose]Moderate-intensity exercise is known to be the best effective intensity to enhance cognitive function, including memory and learning. However, the effects of high-intensity exercise in comparison with moderate- intensity exercise on cognitive function remain controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of high-intensity resistance exercise on cognitive function. [Methods]Thirty-six healthy female college students volunteered to participate in this study. The participants were divided into four groups: (i) control group (CON); (ii) high-intensity resistance exercise group (HIR); (iii) high-intensity aerobic exercise group (HIA); and (iv) combined moderate-intensity exercise group (MIC). Immediately prior to and after exercise, the solved number (SN) and reaction times (RT) in the Stroop test (neutral task, NT and incongruent task, IT), as well as the tissue oxygen index (TOI) in the left and right prefrontal cortex (PFC) were measured in all groups. [Results]In the NT, both HIR and MIC groups showed significant improvements in SN and RT compared with the CON group. Meanwhile, performance in the HIA group was significantly attenuated compared with that in the MIC group. In the IT, only the MIC group showed a significant increase in SN and RT compared with the CON group. Furthermore, the TOI in the PFC (left PFC in the NT, and bilaterally in the IT) was significantly lower in the HIR group compared with that in the CON group. [Conclusion]The results of this study show worse cognitive performance and decreased PFC oxygenation in high-intensity exercise compared with moderate-intensity exercise and controls. These results suggest that high-intensity exercise may not improve cognition as effectively as moderate-intensity exercise.

Functional and/or structural brain changes in response to resistance exercises and resistance training lead to cognitive improvements – a systematic review

“…In the reviewed studies, the effect of resistance exercises and/or resistance training on cognition and the brain was investigated in different cohorts, including healthy young adults [43,182,183], healthy older adults [44,45,[184][185][186][187][188], older adults with mild cognitive impairment [188][189][190][191], older adults in an early stage of dementia [192], and individuals with multiple sclerosis [193]. Detailed information about participant characteristics (e.g., age, height, body mass) is provided in Table 1.…”

“…Additionally, three resistance exercise studies [43,182,183,195] accounted for circadian variability as a possible moderating factor.…”

“…In four studies investigating the acute effects of single resistance exercise sessions on cognitive performance and on functional neuroelectric or hemodynamic brain processes, the exercise sessions lasted approximately 30 min [183] or 40 min [43,182,195].…”

“…With regard to an acute bout of resistance exercises, in healthy young adults, a decrease in tissue oxygenation index in the left prefrontal cortex during the Stoop test and improved behavioral performance (i.e., faster reaction time and higher number of solved items in neutral condition) was observed after a single bout of highintensity resistance exercise [43]. [172].…”

The Relationship Between the Performance and Brain Oxygenation During Acute Supramaximal Exercise

“…Hem teknik gelişmeler hem de disiplinler arası iş birliği artışı spor bilimcilerin de bu alana ilgisini artırmıştır. Egzersiz ve beyin alanındaki çalışmalar egzersizin akut ve kronik etkilerini araştırmakta, bunun yanında farklı süre, şiddet ve tipteki egzersizlerin beyin yanıtları üzerindeki etkilerini de ortaya koymaya çalışmaktadır (3)(4)(5).…”