scholarly journals Exercise Intensity Influences Prefrontal Cortex Oxygenation during Cognitive Testing

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terence Moriarty ◽  
Kelsey Bourbeau ◽  
Bryanne Bellovary ◽  
Micah N. Zuhl
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
High Intensity ◽  
Acute Exercise ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Cognitive Testing ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy

Activation changes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) regions have been linked to acute exercise-induced improvements in cognitive performance. The type of exercise performed may influence PFC activation, and further impact cognitive function. The present study aimed to compare PFC activation during cognitive testing after moderate-intensity, high intensity, and yoga exercises, and to determine if PFC activation is linked to cognitive performance. Eight subjects (four male and four female), aged 35 ± 5 completed a control, high intensity, moderate intensity, and yoga exercises followed by administration of a cognitive task (NIH Toolbox Fluid Cognition). Left and right PFC activation (LPFC and RPFC, respectively) were evaluated by measuring hemoglobin difference (Hbdiff) changes during post-exercise cognitive assessment using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Activation during the cognitive test was higher in the LPFC after moderate intensity exercise compared to control, high intensity, and yoga (5.30 ± 6.65 vs. 2.26 ± 2.40, 2.50 ± 1.48, 2.41 ± 2.36 μM, p < 0.05, respectively). A negative relationship was detected between LPFC and processing speed after exercise. PFC activation did not align with cognitive performance. However, acute exercise, regardless of type, appeared to alter neural processing. Specifically, less PFC activation was required for a given neural output after exercise.

scholarly journals High Intensity Intermittent Exercise Plays a Role in Improving Brain Activation During Complex Executive Functional Tasks

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-42
Author(s):  
Shweta Shenoy ◽  
Prachi Khandekar ◽  
Abhinav Sathe
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
High Intensity ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Intermittent Exercise ◽  
Brain Activation ◽  
Cognitive Testing ◽  
Cortical Activation ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy ◽  
Significant Difference

Several neuroimaging studies have examined the effect of different types and combinations of exercises on activation of brain associated with cognitive testing but none of these studies have examined the role of high intensity intermittent exercise (HIIE) in altering cortical activation from simple to complex cognitive tasks.  The purpose of this study was to find if HIIE has a role in modulating executive functions related to inhibitory control as expressed by changes in prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation.  Materials and methods. 40 healthy adults aged between 18-30 years volunteered for the study. They were randomly divided into HIIE a (n = 20) group and a control (n = 20) group. The HIIE group performed 4*4 min of high intensity exercise on a cycle ergometer with 3 minutes of active recovery at lower intensities between the bouts, whereas the control group performed no exercise. Prefrontal hemodynamics (oxy and deoxy haemoglobin) were assessed using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during the Colour Word Stroop test (CWST) on two sessions: pre-session and post-session (1 week after pre-session). Results. The results indicate a significant difference in CWST scores which coincided with a significant difference in hemodynamics of PFC between a congruent and a complex incongruent task in the HIIE group. There was a greater activation of the right frontopolar area, the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, and the left frontopolar area during the incongruent task in response to acute HIIE.  Conclusion. HIIE plays a role in changing brain activation during more complex interference related tasks.

scholarly journals Prefrontal Cortex Hemodynamics During Exercise in Older Adults With Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 189-189
Author(s):  
Kell Grandjean da Costa ◽  
Eduardo Fontes ◽  
Alekya Menta ◽  
Sarah White ◽  
Roger Fielding ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Perceived Exertion ◽  
Acute Exercise ◽  
Cerebral Hemodynamics ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Exercise Heart Rate ◽  
Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy ◽  
Cognitive Risk ◽  
Dementia Syndrome

Abstract The motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR) is a recently described pre-dementia syndrome in older adults characterized by slow gait coupled with subjective cognitive complaints. While previous studies have demonstrated the benefits of exercise on cerebral hemodynamics in healthy older adults, to date, no study has characterized the effects of exercise on these parameters among more vulnerable older persons with MCR. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated how the brain area responsible for high-order cognitive function (i.e., prefrontal cortex) is affected during acute cycling exercise in 19 older adults with MCR (Age (mean ± SD): 73.7 ± 7.1 years; BMI: 32.1 ± 5.5 kg/m2; gait speed: 0.55 ± 0.1 m/s; Modified Mini-Mental score: 91.8 ± 6.8; 74% female). Participants performed an incremental submaximal cycling test and we used functional near-infrared spectroscopy to assess changes in concentrations of Oxyhemoglobin (O2Hb), Deoxyhemoglobin (dHb) and total hemoglobin (Hbt) during exercise. Results showed that participants cycled for 4.9 ± 0.5 minutes, achieved a submaximal load of 54.7 ± 17.3 watts, a peak exercise heart rate of 95.7 ± 14.7 beats/min and a rate of perceived exertion (13.8 ± 2.0). Compared to baseline, there was an increase of 97.3 % in the O2Hb, 86 % on the Hbt and an 87.9 decrease of dHb while exercising. Our findings suggest that acute exercise at light through moderate intensity increases prefrontal cortex oxygenation in older adults with MCR. Additional studies are also warranted to characterize the effects of chronic exercise on cerebral hemodynamics in at-risk older adults.

scholarly journals Acute Exercise Intensity and Memory Function: Evaluation of the Transient Hypofrontality Hypothesis

Medicina ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (8) ◽  
pp. 445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul D. Loprinzi ◽  
Sierra Day ◽  
Raymond Deming
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
High Intensity ◽  
Acute Exercise ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Memory Function ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Function Evaluation ◽  
Cognitive Resources ◽  
Extended Experiment

Background and Objective: The transient hypofrontality hypothesis predicts that memory function will be impaired during high-intensity exercise, as a result of a need for metabolic and cognitive resources to be allocated toward sustaining movement, as opposed to performing a cognitive task. The purpose of these experiments was to evaluate this transient hypofrontality hypothesis. Materials and Methods: Experiment 1 involved participants (n = 24; Mage = 21.9 years) completing four counterbalanced visits. Two visits evaluated working memory function, either at rest or during a high-intensity bout of acute exercise. The other two visits evaluated episodic memory function, either at rest or during a high-intensity bout of acute exercise. Experiment 2 (n = 24; Mage = 20.9 years) extended Experiment 1 by evaluating memory function (working memory) across 4 counterbalanced conditions, including at rest and during light (30% of heart rate reserve; HRR), moderate (50% HRR) and high-intensity (80% HRR) acute exercise. Results: Experiment 1 demonstrated that, when compared to rest, both working memory and episodic memory were impaired during high-intensity acute exercise. Experiment 2 replicated this effect, but then also showed that, unlike high-intensity acute exercise, memory function was not impaired during low- and moderate-intensity acute exercise. Conclusions: Our experiments provide support for the transient hypofrontality hypothesis. Both working memory and episodic memory are impaired during high-intensity acute exercise. Working memory does not appear to be impaired during lower exercise intensities.

scholarly journals Increased cognitive workload evokes greater neurovascular coupling responses in healthy young adults

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. e0250043
Author(s):  
Tamas Csipo ◽  
Agnes Lipecz ◽  
Peter Mukli ◽  
Dhay Bahadli ◽  
Osamah Abdulhussein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Transcranial Doppler Sonography ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Neurovascular Coupling ◽  
Cognitive Stimulation ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy

Understanding how the brain allocates resources to match the demands of active neurons under physiological conditions is critically important. Increased metabolic demands of active brain regions are matched with hemodynamic responses known as neurovascular coupling (NVC). Several methods that allow noninvasive assessment of brain activity in humans detect NVC and early detection of NVC impairment may serve as an early marker of cognitive impairment. Therefore, non-invasive NVC assessments may serve as a valuable tool to detect early signs of cognitive impairment and dementia. Working memory tasks are routinely employed in the evaluation of cognitive task-evoked NVC responses. However, recent attempts that utilized functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) or transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) while using a similar working memory paradigm did not provide convincing evidence for the correlation of the hemodynamic variables measured by these two methods. In the current study, we aimed to compare fNIRS and TCD in their performance of differentiating NVC responses evoked by different levels of working memory workload during the same working memory task used as cognitive stimulation. Fourteen healthy young individuals were recruited for this study and performed an n-back cognitive test during TCD and fNIRS monitoring. During TCD monitoring, the middle cerebral artery (MCA) flow was bilaterally increased during the task associated with greater cognitive effort. fNIRS also detected significantly increased activation during a more challenging task in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and in addition, widespread activation of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) was also revealed. Robust changes in prefrontal cortex hemodynamics may explain the profound change in MCA blood flow during the same cognitive task. Overall, our data support our hypothesis that both TCD and fNIRS methods can discriminate NVC evoked by higher demand tasks compared to baseline or lower demand tasks.

scholarly journals The effects of gamelike features and test location on cognitive test performance and participant enjoyment

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jim Lumsden ◽  
Andy Skinner ◽  
Andy T. Woods ◽  
Natalia S. Lawrence ◽  
Marcus Munafò
Keyword(s):  
Test Performance ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Error Rates ◽  
Cognitive Testing ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Test Location ◽  
Gamelike Features ◽  
Time Accuracy

Computerised cognitive assessments are a vital tool in the behavioural sciences, but participants often view them as effortful and unengaging. One potential solution is to add gamelike elements to these tasks in order to make them more intrinsically enjoyable, and some researchers have posited that a more engaging task might produce higher quality data. This assumption, however, remains largely untested. We investigated the effects of gamelike features and test location on the data and enjoyment ratings from a simple cognitive task. We tested three gamified variants of the Go-No-Go task, delivered both in the laboratory and online. In the first version of the task participants were rewarded with points for performing optimally. The second version of the task was framed as a cowboy shootout. The third version was a standard Go-No-Go task, used as a control condition. We compared reaction time, accuracy and subjective measures of enjoyment and engagement between task variants and study location. We found points to be a highly suitable game mechanic for gamified cognitive testing because they did not disrupt the validity of the data collected but increased participant enjoyment. However, we found no evidence that gamelike features could increase engagement to the point where participant performance improved. We also found that while participants enjoyed the cowboy themed task, the difficulty of categorising the gamelike stimuli adversely affected participant performance, increasing No-Go error rates by 28% compared to the non-game control. Responses collected online vs. in the laboratory had slightly longer reaction times but were otherwise very similar, supporting other findings that online crowdsourcing is an acceptable method of data collection for this type of research.

scholarly journals Modifications in Prefrontal Cortex Oxygenation in Linear and Curvilinear Dual Task Walking: A Combined fNIRS and IMUs Study

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (18) ◽  
pp. 6159
Author(s):  
Valeria Belluscio ◽  
Gabriele Casti ◽  
Marco Ferrari ◽  
Valentina Quaresima ◽  
Maria Sofia Sappia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Motor Task ◽  
Hemoglobin Concentration ◽  
Cortical Activation ◽  
Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy ◽  
Gait Quality

Increased oxygenated hemoglobin concentration of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) has been observed during linear walking, particularly when there is a high attention demand on the task, like in dual-task (DT) paradigms. Despite the knowledge that cognitive and motor demands depend on the complexity of the motor task, most studies have only focused on usual walking, while little is known for more challenging tasks, such as curved paths. To explore the relationship between cortical activation and gait biomechanics, 20 healthy young adults were asked to perform linear and curvilinear walking trajectories in single-task and DT conditions. PFC activation was assessed using functional near-infrared spectroscopy, while gait quality with four inertial measurement units. The Figure-of-8-Walk-Test was adopted as the curvilinear trajectory, with the “Serial 7s” test as concurrent cognitive task. Results show that walking along curvilinear trajectories in DT led to increased PFC activation and decreased motor performance. Under DT walking, the neural correlates of executive function and gait control tend to be modified in response to the cognitive resources imposed by the motor task. Being more representative of real-life situations, this approach to curved walking has the potential to reveal crucial information and to improve people’ s balance, safety, and life’s quality.

scholarly journals Moderate Cardiovascular Exercise Speeds Up Neural Markers of Stimulus Evaluation During Attentional Control Processes

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 1348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Winneke ◽  
Hübner ◽  
Godde ◽  
Voelcker-Rehage
Keyword(s):  
Attentional Control ◽  
Acute Exercise ◽  
Flanker Task ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Short Version ◽  
Intensity Level ◽  
Cardiovascular Exercise ◽  
Stimulus Evaluation ◽  
Amplitude Data

Moderate intensity cardiovascular exercise appears to provide a low-cost “intervention” on neurocognitive processes such as attentional control, yet the effects vary depending, for example, on cognitive task, time of testing, or exercise intensity. However, while a number of studies show that brief bouts of acute exercise can modulate behavioral indices of cognitive control, relatively few studies have attempted to identify the brain activity associated with these changes immediately following exercise. Here, we tested 11 young adults in a crossover design with a Flanker task at rest and immediately (within 2–3 minutes) following 20 minutes of acute exercise at 60% of the individual VO2max. In order to prevent delayed exercise effects that might confound or dilute immediate effects, a short version of the Flanker task (8 minutes) was chosen and an EEG was recorded simultaneously. The N2 and P3 ERP components were analyzed in addition to accuracy and response time. The N2 reflects conflict resolution, and the P3 has been linked to stimulus evaluation processes. No effect of exercise was found for behavioral data but P3 peak latencies were shorter following exercise as compared to rest. The N2 amplitude data suggest that exercise seems to prevent a decline in resources of attentional control over time. These data indicate that acute exercise, at a moderate intensity level, speeds up neural processing of attentional control by modulating stimulus evaluation processes immediately following exercise and that exercise helps maintain a steady level of neurocognitive resources.

scholarly journals Cognitive performance after postoperative pituitary radiotherapy: a dosimetric study of the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex

2012 ◽  
Vol 166 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauline Brummelman ◽  
Margriet G A Sattler ◽  
Linda C Meiners ◽  
Martin F Elderson ◽  
Robin P F Dullaart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Field Technique ◽  
Group A ◽  
Cross Sectional Design ◽  
Cognitive Test Performance

ObjectiveThe hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) are important for memory and executive functioning and are known to be sensitive to radiotherapy (RT). Radiation dosimetry relates radiation exposure to specific brain areas. The effects of various pituitary RT techniques were studied by relating detailed dosimetry of the hippocampus and PFC to cognitive performance.MethodsIn this cross-sectional design, 75 non-functioning pituitary macroadenoma (NFA) patients (61±10 years) participated and were divided into irradiated (RT+, n=30) and non-irradiated (RT−, n=45) groups. The RT+ group (who all received 25 fractions of 1.8 Gy; total dose: 45 Gy) consisted of three RT technique groups: three-field technique, n=10; four-field technique, n=15; and five-field technique, n=5. Memory and executive functioning were assessed by standardized neuropsychological tests. A reconstruction of the dose distributions for the three RT techniques was made. The RT doses on 30, 50, and 70% of the volume of the left and right hippocampus and PFC were calculated.ResultsCognitive test performance was not different between the four groups, despite differences in radiation doses applied to the hippocampi and PFC. Age at RT, time since RT, and the use of thyroid hormone varied significantly between the groups; however, they were not related to cognitive performance.ConclusionThis study showed that there were no significant differences on cognitive performance between the three-, four-, and five-field RT groups and the non-irradiated patient group. A dose–response relationship could not be established, even with a radiation dose that was higher on most of the volume of the hippocampus and PFC in case of a four-field RT technique compared with the three- and five-field RT techniques.

High-intensity interval exercise in the cold regulates acute and postprandial metabolism

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Munten ◽  
Lucie Ménard ◽  
Jeffrey Gagnon ◽  
Sandra C. Dorman ◽  
Ania Mezouari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lipid Oxidation ◽  
High Intensity ◽  
Acute Exercise ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Postprandial Metabolism ◽  
Interval Exercise ◽  
Cold Environments ◽  
Postprandial Lipid Metabolism ◽  
Postprandial Lipid ◽  
High Intensity Interval

High-Intensity Interval Exercise (HIIE) has been shown to be more effective than moderate-intensity exercise for increasing acute lipid oxidation and lowering blood lipids during exercise and postprandially. Exercise in cold environments is also known to enhance lipid oxidation, however the immediate and long-term effects of HIIE exercise in cold are unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects cold stress during HIIE on acute exercise metabolism and postprandial metabolism. Eleven recreationally active individuals (age: 23±3 years, weight: 80±9.7 kg, V̇O2peak: 39.2±5.73 mL·kg-1·min-1) performed evening HIIE sessions (10x60s cycling, 90% V̇O2peak interspersed with 90s active recovery, 30% V̇O2peak) in thermoneutral (HIIE-TN, control; 21°C) and cold environments (HIIE-CO; 0°C), following a balanced crossover design. The following morning, participants consumed a high-fat meal. Indirect calorimetry was used to assess substrate oxidation, and venous blood samples were obtained to assess changes in noncellular metabolites. During acute exercise, lipid oxidation was 113% higher in HIIE-CO (p=0.002) without differences in V̇O2 and EE (p≥0.162) between conditions. Postprandial V̇O2, lipid and CHO oxidation, plasma insulin and triglyceride concentrations were not different between conditions (p>0.05). Postprandial blood LDL-C levels were higher in HIIE-CO two hours after the meal (p=0.003). Postprandial glucose AUC was 49% higher in HIIE-CO vs HIIE-TN (p=0.034). Under matched energy expenditure conditions, HIIE demonstrated higher lipid oxidation rates during exercise in the cold; but only marginally influenced postprandial lipid metabolism the following morning. In conclusion, HIIE in the cold seemed to be less favorable for postprandial lipid and glycemic responses.

Correlates of Reaction Time to Startle

1965 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard I. Thackray
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Response Time ◽  
High Intensity ◽  
Skin Resistance ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Auditory Stimuli ◽  
Autonomic Reactivity ◽  
Differential Stress ◽  
Intense Stimulus

The present study was concerned with behavioral and physiological correlates of response time to high intensity, 'unexpected' auditory stimuli. Stimuli consisted of an initial 120 db startle tone followed by a series of 50 tones of 75 db and a final 120 db startle tone. Sub-jects responded by moving a control stick as rapidly as possible to the onset of each tone. Continuous recordings of heart rate and skin resistance were taken. Autonomic reactivity to the first intense stimulus was found to be positively correlated with response latency, while response time to the final intense stimulus suggests a negative relationship to autonomic levels and reactivity. The primary effect of the second high intensity tone was to significantly exaggerate pre-existing differences between individuals in their reaction time to the preceding moderate intensity stimuli. Possible relationships of this differential stress response to concepts of excitation and inhibition are briefly discussed.

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