Resting-State Functional Connectivity Change in Frontoparietal and Default Mode Networks After Acute Exercise in...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Exercise Physiology
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Acute aerobic exercise offers transient cognitive and emotional benefits in children.
• Limited understanding exists regarding how exercise impacts children's brain network resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the acute effects of a single exercise bout on resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) in children aged 9-13.
• Utilized a data-driven multivariate pattern analysis to examine exercise-induced changes in brain network connectivity.

Main Methods:

• Employed a crossover design with 21 participants completing 20-minute treadmill walking (exercise) and seated reading (control) conditions on separate days.
• Collected pre- and post-fMRI scans for both conditions to assess changes in rsFC.
• Applied multivariate pattern analysis to detect significant differences in rsFC between the exercise and control conditions.

Main Results:

• Identified three left lateral prefrontal cortex (lPFC) clusters within the frontoparietal network (FPN) showing altered rsFC post-exercise compared to control.
• Observed increased correlation between FPN clusters and bilateral lPFC/left basal ganglia after exercise.
• Noted increased anti-correlation between left lPFC and the default mode network's (DMN) precuneus following exercise, with an inverse pattern in the control condition.

Conclusions:

• A single exercise session boosts FPN connectivity and its integration with subcortical motor/cognitive regions in children.
• Exercise promotes FPN and DMN segregation, a pattern linked to enhanced cognitive and emotional regulation.
• These neural changes likely underpin the temporary mental benefits of acute exercise in young individuals.