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

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Exercise Physiology
• Obesity Research

Background:

• Understanding brain mechanisms underlying weight management is crucial for overweight/obese individuals.
• Exercise impacts brain function, potentially influencing weight loss and maintenance.
• Integrative brain hubs play a key role in multimodal integration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of a 6-month exercise program on brain connectivity in overweight/obese individuals.
• To examine changes in between-network connectivity (BNC) in integrative brain hubs.
• To explore the relationship between BNC changes, aerobic fitness, and perceived hunger.

Main Methods:

• Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to assess brain activity.
• A novel between-network connectivity (BNC) metric was employed to identify integrative hubs.
• Paired t-tests and Granger causality analysis were used to determine changes in BNC and causal flow.

Main Results:

• A 6-month exercise program significantly reduced BNC in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC).
• Reductions were observed in both outgoing and ingoing causal flow to/from the PCC across multiple brain networks.
• Changes in BNC correlated with improvements in aerobic fitness (VO2 max) and decreased perceived hunger.

Conclusions:

• Exercise alters communication within integrative brain hubs in overweight/obese individuals.
• Reduced PCC connectivity may be a mechanism through which exercise influences weight management.
• Individual responses to exercise may be linked to changes in large-scale brain network communication.