Cardiovascular exercise and motor learning in non-disabled individuals: A systematic review with a behavioral emphasis

Abstract

This systematic review aimed to investigate the acute effects of cardiovascular exercise on motor learning of non-disabled individuals. Methods: Forty studies were identified through database searching (PsycINFO, CENTRAL, Google Scholar, Scielo, and PUBMED). The studies demonstrated heterogeneity and were classified into two categories to guide the analyses: (1) À studies that investigated the effects of exercise-induced fatigue during practice on the performance in the retention test; (2) À studies that verified the acute impact of the cardiovascular exercise in close temporal proximity to the task practice on motor learning. Results: The studies demonstrated that (1) -the practice under fatigue conditions did not impair motor learning and that (2) À the cardiovascular exercise bout performed in close temporal proximity to task practice enhances the motor learning processes. Conclusion: Cardiovascular exercise enhances motor learning processes; however, these priming effects are dependents on the timing between practice and exercise, type of exercise, and task characteristics.

Effects of an Acute High Intensity Exercise Bout on Retention of Explicit, Strategic Locomotor Learning in Individuals With Chronic Stroke

“…In these tasks with greater postural and coordination demands than the upper extremity learning tasks, exercise priming has not been shown to improve motor learning or retention in neurotypical individuals or those with chronic stroke. 18,25,29,32,35 It has been suggested based on EEG results that seated, single-limb visuomotor tasks such as those in previous exercise priming work in the upper extremity may predominantly involve the prefrontal cortex. 17 By contrast, gait and postural tasks have been found to be related to a wide range of brain areas, including the primary motor cortex, visual cortex, cerebellum, basal ganglia, and brainstem.…”

“…20,21,24,29,32 Additionally, most of the studies showing improvement in motor learning/retention with exercise priming have found a greater benefit to task retention (measured between 24 hours and several days after first task exposure) than to the initial learning process. 17,19,21,23,24,27,33,34 Enhancement to learning retention after exercise priming appears to be greatest when the exercise is delivered after the initial task learning, 23,29,34 during memory consolidation. In some cases, the response to priming 24 hours or longer after initial task exposure is even more robust than at earlier time points.…”

“…11,36,37 By contrast, the previous upper extremity work relied largely on visually-guided reaching tasks and visuomotor rotations that have been found to utilize predominantly explicit strategy. 38,39 Since explicit strategic learning is generally thought to be mediated through the prefrontal cortex, 17,28,38,39 and the neurotrophic factors and other chemical mediators released during exercise have been shown to reach and be taken up in the prefrontal region, 17,29 it is possible that exercise priming may target the neural structures associated with explicit strategic learning more than those associated with implicit sensorimotor adaptation. As yet, no groups have studied the effect of exercise priming on the learning/retention of an explicit, strategic locomotor learning task (a task where the learning mechanisms would be expected to be more similar to the tasks in the upper extremity priming literature.…”

“…Several common themes have emerged from this body of work so far. First, the benefit of priming to learning/retention may not depend on the exact modality of exercise (such as treadmill walking/running versus cycling), [29][30][31] as long as the physiologic stimulus is of an intensity greater than 70% of age-predicted maximal heart rate, HRmax. 20,21,24,29,32 Additionally, most of the studies showing improvement in motor learning/retention with exercise priming have found a greater benefit to task retention (measured between 24 hours and several days after first task exposure) than to the initial learning process.…”

“…First, the benefit of priming to learning/retention may not depend on the exact modality of exercise (such as treadmill walking/running versus cycling), [29][30][31] as long as the physiologic stimulus is of an intensity greater than 70% of age-predicted maximal heart rate, HRmax. 20,21,24,29,32 Additionally, most of the studies showing improvement in motor learning/retention with exercise priming have found a greater benefit to task retention (measured between 24 hours and several days after first task exposure) than to the initial learning process. 17,19,21,23,24,27,33,34 Enhancement to learning retention after exercise priming appears to be greatest when the exercise is delivered after the initial task learning, 23,29,34 during memory consolidation.…”