Acute Exercise and Motor Memory Consolidation: The Role of Exercise Intensity

Abstract

A single bout of high intensity aerobic exercise (~90% VO2peak) was previously demonstrated to amplify off-line gains in skill level during the consolidation phase of procedural memory. High intensity exercise is not always a viable option for many patient groups or in a rehabilitation setting where low to moderate intensities may be more suitable. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of intensity in mediating the effects of acute cardiovascular exercise on motor skill learning. We investigated the effects of different exercise intensities on the retention (performance score) of a visuomotor accuracy tracking task. Thirty six healthy male subjects were randomly assigned to one of three groups that performed either a single bout of aerobic exercise at 20 min post motor skill learning at 45% (EX45), 90% (EX90) maximal power output (Wmax) or rested (CON). Randomization was stratified to ensure that the groups were matched for relative peak oxygen consumption (ml O2/min/kg) and baseline score in the tracking task. Retention tests were carried out at 1 (R1) and 7 days (R7) post motor skill learning. At R1, changes in performance scores were greater for EX90 compared to CON (p<0.001) and EX45 (p = 0.011). The EX45 and EX90 groups demonstrated a greater change in performance score at R7 compared to the CON group (p = 0.003 and p<0.001, respectively). The change in performance score for EX90 at R7 was also greater than EX45 (p = 0.049). We suggest that exercise intensity plays an important role in modulating the effects that a single bout of cardiovascular exercise has on the consolidation phase following motor skill learning. There appears to be a dose-response relationship in favour of higher intensity exercise in order to augment off-line effects and strengthen procedural memory.

Acute Exercise Improves Motor Memory Consolidation in Preadolescent Children

“…In a recent study by Thomas et al (2016c) it was found that higher intensity exercise following skill acquisition was accompanied by more pronounced effects on motor memory compared to moderate intensity exercise. In agreement with previous studies in adults (Roig et al, 2012; Skriver et al, 2014) the present results demonstrate that high-intensity exercise following skill learning can promote consolidation of memory in children.…”

“…The intensity of the physical activity was relatively high, since some studies, including our own data (Thomas et al, 2016c), have indicated that high work intensity during consolidation leads to larger effect of the intervention (Angevaren et al, 2007; Winter et al, 2007). …”

Adaptive Capacity: An Evolutionary Neuroscience Model Linking Exercise, Cognition, and Brain Health

“…When training sessions are performed sequentially on the same day, the effects of combined training on cognition are stronger, and generally improve when the delay between sessions is minimized [93]. For example, a single bout of exercise performed either immediately before or after learning a motor skill led to improvements in skill acquisition in healthy adults, while exercise performed 1 or 2 hours following task learning led to no improvements in skill acquisition [94,95]. …”

A single exercise bout and locomotor learning after stroke: physiological, behavioural, and computational outcomes

“…; Thomas et al . , b, ). In this series of studies, motor learning was examined using a unilateral isometric tracking task with the upper extremity and it was found that a single high‐intensity exercise bout, administered either before or after the motor practice, enhanced the retention of the motor task 1 and 7 days after the first exposure (Roig et al .…”

“…; Thomas et al . , b, ). Among the exercise‐related parameters, intensity and timing were reported to have a significant effect on motor learning (Roig et al .…”