Twelve weeks of physical exercise breaks with coordinative exercises at the workplace increase the sulcal depth and...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Exercise Physiology
• Radiology

Background:

• Physical exercise influences brain structure and function.
• Coordinative exercise studies, particularly those involving juggling, are infrequent.
• Understanding exercise-induced brain changes is crucial for cognitive health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of 12-week physical exercise breaks (PEBs) with coordinative exercises (juggling) on brain structure.
• To assess changes in cortical depth and gray matter volume.
• To correlate brain structure changes with performance improvements.

Main Methods:

• Randomized controlled trial with an intervention group (IG) and a control group (CG).
• IG performed 15-20 minute PEBs with coordinative exercises twice weekly for 12 weeks.
• High-resolution 3T T1-weighted MRI scans were conducted at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks.
• Juggling performance was measured using a three-ball cascade task.

Main Results:

• Increased vertex-wise cortical depth in the inferior parietal lobe observed in the IG after 6 and 12 weeks.
• Decreased gray matter volume in the right insula and right operculum in the IG after 12 weeks.
• Gray matter volume changes correlated with improved juggling performance; no significant changes in the CG.

Conclusions:

• Regular engagement in PEBs with coordinative exercises induces structural brain changes.
• These changes occur in brain regions vital for visuomotor processes, including hand and arm movements.
• Coordinative exercises represent a promising avenue for enhancing brain health through targeted physical activity.