Eccentric Cycling Improves Motor Learning More Than Concentric Cycling

Acute aerobic exercise (AAE) performed before motor task practice can enhance skill acquisition and motor learning. To date, research on AAE effects on motor learning has focused exclusively on concentric cycling, leaving the impact of eccentric cycling unexplored. Unlike concentric cycling, eccentric cycling involves muscle lengthening while resisting reverse pedal motion and enables greater force production with lower cardiovascular and metabolic cost. Previous work showed prolonged decreased motor cortex inhibition following eccentric contractions compared to concentric contractions, and eccentric cycling AAE increases cognition-related brain activation. Given the critical contribution of these brain circuits and regions to motor learning, we hypothesized that eccentric cycling AAE performed before motor skill practice would enhance motor learning more than concentric cycling AAE. A total of 60 young healthy individuals were allocated to one of three groups performing 20 min of: (i) eccentric cycling, (ii) concentric cycling, and (iii) seated rest. Both cycling conditions were matched for power output corresponding to 70% peak heart rate elicited during a concentric incremental test. Motor skill acquisition was assessed immediately post-intervention and motor learning at a 48-h retention test. For acquisition and the retention test, the eccentric group outperformed the concentric and rest groups, while the concentric group showed better retention test performance than rest. Thus, we demonstrated that eccentric cycling AAE enhances motor learning more than concentric cycling AAE, while also confirming enhanced motor learning following concentric cycling AAE compared to rest. Eccentric cycling AAE may have important implications for exercise protocols prescribed in sports and clinical settings.