The effect of high and low exercise intensity periods on a simple memory recognition test

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of variable intensities on a simple memory recognition task during exercise.MethodsTwenty active participants took part in initial testing, a familiarization trial and then four 60 min cycling interventions in a randomized order. Interventions consisted of no exercise (control), constant exercise at 90% ventilatory threshold (constant) and 2 trials that initially mimicked the constant trial, but then included periods of high (∼90%VO2peak) and low intensities (∼50%VO2peak). Cardiorespiratory measures and capillary blood samples were taken throughout. A short tablet-based cognitive task was completed prior to and during (50 and 55 min into exercise) each intervention.ResultsThe exercise conditions facilitated response time (p = 0.009), although the extent of this effect was not as strong in the variable exercise conditions (p = 0.011–0.089). High intensity exercise periods resulted in some cognitive regression back towards control trial performance. Elevations in cardiorespiratory measures and periods of hypocapnia could not explain changes in cognitive performance.ConclusionChanges in cognitive performance with variations in exercise intensity are likely to have implications for sport and occupational settings. The timing of cognitive tests to exercise intensity changes as well as use of short cognitive assessments will be important for future work.

Intensity-specific effects of acute exercise on human memory function: considerations for the timing of exercise and the type of memory

“…Five studies employed a between-subject experimental design, with the other 4 employing a within-subject experimental design. The exercise protocols varied considerably, including a short maximal treadmill bout 25 ; 40-minute of low impact running vs. 2 x 3 minute sprints 24 ; 12-minutes of running at 50%-65% vs. 70%-85% HR max 26 ; 30-minutes of treadmill exercise at either 40%-50%, 51%-70%, or 71%-85% HR max 27 ; 30-minutes of treadmill exercise at Vt (ventilatory threshold) + 20%, Vt – 20%, or VO 2max protocol 2 ; 30-minutes of cycle exercise at <57 or 80% of HR max 28 ; 60-minutes of cycle exercise at 90% of Vt vs. 90% of Vt with intermittent sprints 29 ; 10-minutes of walking slowly vs. stepping exercise with holding 1kg weight 30 ; and 60-minutes of cycle exercise at Vt + 10% vs. <30 W. 31…”

Effects of acute aerobic and resistance exercise on executive function: An ERP study

“…Exercise modality is another factor that warrants further consideration to further clarify the influence of acute exercise on EF. 3 While beneficial effects of 30-min acute aerobic exercise (AE) on shifting, inhibition, and updating have been reported across the lifespan, 7,9 the influence of acute resistance exercise (RE) has received much less attention. To date, only a few studies have https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2019.07.009 1440-2440/© 2019 Sports Medicine Australia.…”

Effects of continuous and intermittent exercise on executive function in children aged 8–10 years

“…As such, it is plausible that intermittent exercise of an overall, average moderate intensity, but which is interspersed with a high‐intensity component, may be more beneficial for the health and well‐being of children than a simple bout of continuous moderate‐intensity exercise. When implementing acute, intermittent, high‐ and low‐intensity bouts of exercise (2 × 3‐min bouts) within a prolonged bout (∼1 h) of moderate intensity exercise with adults, Rattray and Smee () demonstrated significant improvements in response time of a speed match test when compared to a nonexercise control condition. The protocol design of this aforementioned study somewhat reflects the normal patterns of physical activity behavior of a child, and leads us to speculate that a similar improvement in cognition could be observed with ecologically designed, intermittent exercise protocols with children.…”

“…Indeed, both children and adults show significant activation in the prefrontal regions of the brain when performing cognitive shifting, inhibitory control, and working memory tasks (Moriguchi & Hiraki, ). Activities that require intermittent changes in exercise intensity, however, present a more complex situation, as proposed physiological changes that likely influence cognition can be short lived (Rattray & Smee, ). Nevertheless, near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) offers a noninvasive and valid means of assessing prefrontal cortex perfusion and oxygenation, it can be implemented during exercise (Rooks, Thom, McCully, & Dishman, ), and it presents a viable option for use with children.…”

“…The physiological mechanisms underpinning the relationship between acute exercise and executive function in children, however, requires greater attention (Jager, Schmidt, Conzelmann, & Roebers, ). It has been suggested that the relationship between exercise intensity and cognitive performance during exercise is best described as an inverted U, where cognitive performance is optimal at moderate exercise intensities, but reduced at both low and high intensities (Rattray & Smee, ). This has been attributed to increasing levels of circulating catecholamines and brain‐derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), among others, which may transiently enhance the neural response to a challenging task, possibly through an induced, increased state of arousal (Best, ; Verburgh et al, ).…”