The relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and resting-state cortical activation: An EEG study on power...

Research increasingly supports the role of aerobic exercise and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in enhancing cognitive function and brain health, with studies typically focusing on task-related cognitive performance and neurophysiological measures. However, the extent to which these cognitive benefits of CRF translate to non-task-related brain function, as reflected in resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG), remains largely unexamined. This study investigated the association between CRF, as measured by maximal oxygen consumption (VȮ_2max), and resting EEG power in the delta, theta, alpha-1, alpha-2, and beta frequency bands. One hundred and nineteen healthy young adults (58 females, mean age = 22 ± 3 years) completed a graded exercise test to measure VȮ_2max and resting-state EEG recording in counterbalanced eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions. After controlling for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI), there was a significant vision effect for all the frequency bands, where power was lower in the eyes-open condition compared to eyes-closed. VȮ_2max emerged as a significant predictor of EEG power in the alpha-2 (B = 0.009, SE(B) = 0.003, β = 0.174, p = 0.008) and beta (B = 0.005, SE(B) = 0.002, β = 0.18, p = 0.013) frequency bands. VȮ_2max was not related to delta, theta, or alpha-1 power. The CRF-EEG associations selectively observed in faster frequency bands (alpha-2 and beta) suggest that when visual input and related sensory processing are minimized higher CRF may reflect cortical readiness or an optimized neural state theorized to support cognitive engagement. Findings from the current study provide evidence to support the beneficial role of CRF to cognitive health by extending its benefits to resting-state brain function.