Task-dependent neural effects of physical exercise: A systematic review and meta-analysis of functional magnetic
Geng Li1, Yang Liu2, Chenzhen Liu3
1School of Psychology, Research Center for Exercise and Brain Science, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Background:
Physical exercise enhances cognition, likely through neuroplasticity. Whether exercise induces domain-specific brain changes according to cognitive task demands remains unclear.
Method:
An Activation Likelihood Estimation (ALE) meta-analysis of 34 Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) studies was conducted, categorizing studies by task type.
Results:
Physical exercise increased precuneus activation, supporting a domain-general effect. Subgroup analyses revealed task-specific changes: executive tasks showed increased cingulate activation and decreased superior temporal and cerebellar activation, while low-control tasks showed increased precuneus, cuneus, and precentral activation with decreased fusiform and parahippocampal activation.
Conclusion:
This meta-analysis demonstrates that physical exercise enhances task-related brain activation in domain-general hub regions such as the precuneus, while also exerting task-dependent effects in regions associated with motor and executive control. These findings suggest that physical exercise promotes both general and task-specific neural adaptations that may underlie its cognitive benefits.
