From emotional inhibition to memory suppression: Acute exercise modulates electrophysiological dynamics associated...

Failures in inhibitory control over negative emotional memories can lead to intrusive recollections that interfere with cognitive functioning and well-being. The present study examined whether acute exercise modulates the electrophysiological dynamics underlying inhibitory control during the suppression of negative emotional memories. Seventy healthy participants were randomly assigned to an acute exercise group or a seated-rest control group. The exercise group completed 30 min of moderate-intensity exercise, whereas the control group remained seated at rest. Participants completed the emotional Think/No-Think paradigm both before and after the intervention, while electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded. Event-related potentials (ERPs), time-frequency analyses, and multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) were used to characterize neural processes associated with inhibitory control. Results showed that acute exercise selectively modulated late-stage neural activity during negative memory suppression, particularly within the 2400-3000 ms time window. This modulation was most evident over central site and left parietal site, and was accompanied by changes in alpha- and beta-band power at the left parieto-occipital junction. Overall, these findings suggest that acute exercise modulates late-stage neural dynamics during the suppression of negative memories. The observed neural changes were accompanied by a reduction in intrusion frequency during suppression attempts, consistent with the possibility that acute exercise facilitates late-stage sustained inhibition.