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Changes in working memory performance and cortical activity during acute aerobic exercise in young adults
Kefeng Zheng1, Zhangyan Deng1,2, Jiali Qian1,2
1Department of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
|August 19, 2022
Summary
Acute aerobic exercise enhances working memory performance in young adults, leading to faster response times. However, this exercise also reduces cortical activity in specific brain regions, suggesting a complex interplay between physical exertion and cognitive function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Exercise Physiology
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Working memory is crucial for cognitive tasks.
- Aerobic exercise is known to impact cognitive function.
- The neural mechanisms linking exercise and working memory are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of acute aerobic exercise on working memory performance.
- To examine concurrent changes in cortical activity during exercise using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).
- To explore the relationship between cognitive performance and brain activation during moderate-intensity exercise.
Main Methods:
- A crossover study design involving 27 young adults.
- Two conditions: sitting (control) and moderate-intensity cycling.
- Working memory assessed using a modified n-back task.
- Cortical activity measured via fNIRS to monitor oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) concentrations.
Main Results:
- Cycling significantly improved response time on the n-back task (p < 0.05).
- No significant differences in accuracy were found between conditions.
- fNIRS revealed decreased oxy-Hb in the frontopolar, dorsolateral prefrontal, and premotor/supplementary motor cortex during cycling (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Acute aerobic exercise can enhance working memory response speed in young adults.
- Moderate-intensity exercise leads to reduced cortical activation in specific prefrontal and motor areas.
- These findings suggest an adaptive neural response during exercise that supports improved cognitive task performance.
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