Cognitive fatigue due to exercise under normobaric hypoxia is related to hypoxemia during exercise

Abstract

We previously found that a 10-min bout of moderate-intensity exercise (50% maximal oxygen uptake) under normobaric and hypoxic conditions (fraction of inspired oxygen [$${{\text{F}}_\text{IO}}_{_{2}}$$ F IO 2 ] = 0.135) reduced executive performance and neural activity in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). To examine whether this cognitive fatigue is due to a decrease in SpO2 during exercise, we compared executive performance and related prefrontal activation between two experimental conditions, in which the participants inhaled normobaric hypoxic gas ($${{\text{F}}_\text{IO}}_{_{2}}$$ F IO 2 = 0.135) (hypoxic exercise [HE]) or hypoxic gas adjusted so that SpO2 during exercise remained at the resting level (milder hypoxic exercise [ME]). ME condition showed that reaction time in executive performance decreased (t[13] = 2.228, P < 0.05, d = 0.34, paired t-test) and left DLPFC activity increased (t[13] = -2.376, P < 0.05, d = 0.63, paired t-test) after exercise compared with HE condition. These results showed that the HE-induced reductions in the left DLPFC activity and executive performance were both suppressed in the ME condition, supporting the hypothesis that exercise-induced cognitive fatigue under hypoxic environment is due to hypoxemia during exercise. This may lead to the development of a method of coping with cognitive fatigue due to exercise that causes hypoxemia.

Pupil dynamics during very light exercise predict benefits to prefrontal cognition

“…Each trial was separated by an interstimulus interval showing a fixation cross for 10–12 s to avoid prediction of the timing of the following trial ( Damrongthai et al, 2021 ). The lower row was presented 0.1 s after the upper row to achieve sequential visual attention of participants ( Byun et al, 2014b ; Damrongthai et al, 2021 ; Ochi et al, 2022 ; Suwabe et al, 2021 ; Yanagisawa et al, 2010 ). The stimulus was presented on the screen for 2 s. Mean reaction time (RT) and accuracy rate were recorded for the neutral and incongruent conditions.…”

The Effects of Acute Virtual Reality Exergaming on Mood and Executive Function: Exploratory Crossover Trial

“…A total of 13 right-handed Japanese-speaking young adults (7 men and 6 women) were recruited from June to July 2021. The sample size was determined by assuming that the effects of exercise would be similar to those found in our previous studies [ 27 , 31 ]. All participants were without regular exercise habits, Japanese native speakers, healthy, and unaware of the experimental procedures for which they volunteered.…”

Alleviation of Cognitive and Physical Fatigue with Enzymatic Porcine Placenta Hydrolysate Intake through Reducing Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Intensely Exercised Rats

“…Intense exercise generates both physical and cognitive fatigue [ 45 ], although long-term moderate exercise improves cognitive functions [ 46 ]. However, the mechanism of intense exercise to induce cognitive fatigue has remained controversial [ 45 , 47 , 48 ]. The present study demonstrated that EPPH improved physical and cognitive fatigue induced by exhaustive exercise.…”

“…The present study demonstrated that EPPH improved physical and cognitive fatigue induced by exhaustive exercise. Cognitive fatigue was related to decreased glucose concentrations and neurotransmitter alteration, increased proinflammatory cytokines, and hypoxemia in the brain [ 9 , 47 ]. It is associated with cognitive impairment and low alertness [ 49 ].…”