Distinct Mechanisms of Multiple Alpha-Band Activities in Frontal Regions Following an 8-Week Medium- (Yoga) and...

Long-term moderate- to high-intensity exercise has been shown to significantly enhance overall health such as the improvement of physiological indicators and brain functions. One key aspect of brain activity is alpha-band activity, which encompasses various sub-oscillations within the alpha frequency band. However, the precise functions of these alpha sub-oscillations following different exercise regimens remain unclear.

We recruited 58 healthy college students and divided them into four groups: Pamela (high-intensity interval training, HIIT), yoga (moderate-intensity continuous training, MICT), and their corresponding matched control group (no exercise) for each exercise intervention group. Participants in the exercise intervention groups underwent training for up to 8 weeks (HIIT or MICT). Resting-state EEG data were collected before and after training, both with eyes open and closed.

Following HIIT, the Pamela group experienced a significant reduction in body fat percentage and a notable increase in skeletal muscle mass. In terms of neural activity, the main difference was observed in the mid-frequency alpha range in the frontoparietal region during the eyes-open resting state. Conversely, after 8-week yoga training, participants demonstrated a significant improvement in the duration of maintaining balance and sleep quality, and the main neural difference was reflected in the low- and high-frequency alpha band activities in the bilateral frontotemporal regions during the eyes-closed resting state.

This study, for the first time, differentiates the effects of long-term moderate- and high-intensity exercise on neural oscillation during different resting states, which highlights that different sub-frequency bands within the alpha frequency band would represent different exercise-related functions.