A Single Bout of High-Intensity Cardiovascular Exercise Does Not Enhance Motor Performance and Learning of a Visuomotor Force Modulation Task, but Triggers Ipsilateral Task-Related EEG Activity

Nils Henrik Pixa, Lena Hübner, Dieter F. Kutz and Claudia Voelcker-Rehage
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Nils Henrik Pixa: Department of Neuromotor Behavior and Exercise, Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
Lena Hübner: Institute of Human Movement Science and Health, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Chemnitz University of Technology, 09107 Chemnitz, Germany
Dieter F. Kutz: Department of Neuromotor Behavior and Exercise, Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
Claudia Voelcker-Rehage: Department of Neuromotor Behavior and Exercise, Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 23, 1-22

Abstract: Acute cardiovascular exercise (aCE) seems to be a promising strategy to improve motor performance and learning. However, results are heterogeneous, and the related neurophysiological mechanisms are not well understood. Oscillatory brain activitiy, such as task-related power (TRPow) in the alpha and beta frequencies, are known neural signatures of motor activity. Here, we tested the effects of aCE on motor performance and learning, along with corresponding modulations in EEG TRPow over the sensorimotor cortex. Forty-five right-handed participants (aged 18–34 years) practiced a visuomotor force-matching (FM) task after either high-intensity (HEG), low-intensity (LEG), or no exercise (control group, CG). Motor performance was assessed immediately, 15 min, 30 min, and 24 h after aCE/control. EEG was measured during the FM task. Results of frequentist and Bayesian statistics revealed that high- and low-intensity aCE had no effect at the behavioral level, adding to the previous mixed results. Interestingly, EEG analyses showed an effect of aCE on the ipsilateral sensorimotor cortex, with a stronger decrease in β-TRPow 15 min after exercise in both groups compared to the CG. Overall, aCE applied before motor practice increased ipsilateral sensorimotor activity, while motor learning was not affected; it remains to be seen whether aCE might affect motor learning in the long run.

Keywords: physical exercise; fine motor control; motor learning; alpha oscillations; beta oscillations; EEG power; Bayesian ANOVA (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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