Acute Aerobic Exercise-Induced Motor Priming Improves Piano Performance and Alters Motor Cortex Activation

Abstract

Acute aerobic exercise has been shown to improve fine motor skills and alter activation of the motor cortex (M1). The intensity of exercise may influence M1 activation, and further impact whole-body motor skill performance. The aims of the current study were to compare a whole-body motor skill via a piano task following moderate-intensity training (MIT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and to determine if M1 activation is linked to any such changes in performance. Nine subjects (seven females and two males), aged 18 ± 1 years completed a control, MIT, and HIIT trial followed by administration of a piano performance task. M1 activation was evaluated by measuring oxyhemoglobin (O2Hb) and hemoglobin difference (Hbdiff) changes during post-exercise piano performance using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The results indicate that piano performance scores were higher after the MIT trial, but not HIIT trial, compared to the control trial. A negative relationship was detected between heart rate during HIIT and post-HIIT piano scores. M1 activation (as measured by Hbdiff) was significantly increased after the HIIT trial. M1 activation was also positively associated with piano performance when exercise trials (HIIT + MIT) and all trials (HIIT + MIT + Control) were combined. We found that acute moderate-intensity exercise led to an improvement in complex motor skill performance while higher-intensity exercise increased M1 activation. These results demonstrate that moderate-intensity exercise can prime the nervous system for the acquisition of whole-body motor skills, suggesting that similar exercise protocols may be effective in improving the outcomes of other motor tasks performed during regular routines of daily life (e.g., sporting tasks, activities of daily living or rehabilitation). In addition, it appears that improvements in motor task performance may be driven by M1 activation. Our findings provide new mechanistic insight into the complex relationship between exercise intensity, M1 activation, and whole-body motor skill performance.

Walking Endurance and Oxygen Uptake On-Kinetics in Individuals With Parkinson Disease Following Overground Locomotor Training

“…13,43,[45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55] One goal of this pilot study was to design an OLT program that was aerobically stressful while incorporating other training concepts that could only be implemented overground. Based on the assumption that each individual would arrive at their own unique movement solution to the biomechanical and bioenergetic demands of the task 14,15,67 (ie, overground walking), we proposed an aerobically challenging protocol to take advantage of multiple mechanisms of motor learning, 40,[68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75] and perhaps most importantly, while doing so in an ecologically valid environment (ie, overground). 15,67,76,77 Our findings of improved walking endurance and phase II Vo 2 onkinetics serve as preliminary evidence that our approach to OLT offers a viable option to enhance walking distance while concurrently addressing cardiorespiratory impairments in this population.…”

A single bout of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise improves motor learning in premanifest and early Huntington’s disease

“…For example, 30 min of treadmill running resulted in improved motor skill acquisition of a SVIPT conducted immediately afterward, but not in subsequent retention; this improvement was driven by changes in accuracy, rather than speed ( Statton et al, 2015 ). Furthermore, Moriarty et al (2022) found improved motor learning via a piano task following moderate-intensity exercise but not high-intensity exercise. Whether an acute bout of exercise affects motor skill acquisition, retention, or both in HD, is unknown.…”