Concurrent Performance of Executive Function during Acute Bouts of Exercise in Adults: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to systematically review the evidence on the effects of an acute bout of exercise on concurrent performance of core executive function (EF) during exercise in adults. Four electronic databases (i.e., PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and SportDiscus) were searched from inception dates to 30 December 2020. The literature searches were conducted using the combinations of two groups of relevant items related to exercise and executive function. Articles were limited to human studies in adults. The search process, study selection, data extraction, and study quality assessments were carried out independently by two researchers. A total of 4899 studies were identified. Twenty-two studies met our inclusion criteria. Of the 42 reported outcomes in the 22 studies, 13 (31%) of the 42 outcomes showed that core EF performance was enhanced during exercise and 14 (33%) found that core EF performance did not differ from control conditions. Fifteen (36%) found that core EF performance was impaired. Notably, improved EF performances tend to be observed during moderate-intensity exercise, whereas impaired EF performances were more likely to be observed at vigorous-high intensity. The review suggests mixed findings regarding the effects of an acute bout of exercise on concurrent performance of core EF. Exercise intensity seems to influence the effects. The underlying neural mechanisms remain to be elucidated.

The effects of acute high-intensity aerobic exercise on cognitive performance: A structured narrative review

“…Table 1 indicates that the adverse effects are most prominent during high-intensity exercise. These findings are corroborated by a recent review and suggest that impairments in cognitive performance are more likely to occur during high-intensity exercise (Zheng et al, 2021). Based on the assumption that metabolic resources are limited in the brain, extensive activation in several brain regions (e.g., motor and sensory cortices) may attenuate higher-order functions of the PFC and impair cognitive performance (Dietrich and Audiffren, 2011).…”

“…Indeed, the inverted-U theory predicts that high-intensity exercise increases arousal levels beyond the optimal level and leads to a temporary reduction in cognitive performance. However, the current literature base detailing the effects of high-intensity exercise on cognitive performance is not fully supportive of this theory and is somewhat ambiguous and contradictory (Browne et al, 2017;Moreau and Chou, 2019;Cantelon and Giles, 2021;McMorris, 2021;Zheng et al, 2021). Dietrich and Audiffren (2011) proposed the hypofrontality hypothesis to explain how acute high-intensity exercise affects cognitive performance.…”

Do executive function performance, gaze behavior, and pupil size change during incremental acute physical exercise?

“…The operational definition of the high‐intensity exercise has been a key aspect of acute exercise‐cognition interaction (McMorris, 2016a, 2021; Sudo et al, 2022; Zheng et al, 2021). In the present study, high‐intensity exercise was defined by the power at the LT plus 50% of the difference between maximal power output and power at the LT.…”

“…For example, Sudo et al (2022) operationally conceptualized high‐intensity physical exercise as exercise equating to ≥80% maximum power output, ≥80% maximal oxygen uptake, or equivalent (e.g., ≥80% maximal heart rate). On the other hand, Zheng et al (2021) operationally conceptualized high‐intensity physical exercise as exercise equating to ≥70% maximal heart rate or ≥60% heart rate reserve or ≥60% maximal oxygen uptake. Additionally, McMorris (2021) suggests that in the intensity above the respiratory compensation point (RCP), the individual cannot maintain homeostasis, which is a key factor in the interoception theory because the failure to maintain it is seen as an essential aspect for the worsening of cognitive performance.…”

Tai Chi practice enables prefrontal cortex bilateral activation and gait performance prioritization during dual-task negotiating obstacle in older adults

“…Dual-task and negotiating obstacle tasks (NOTs) were related to different aspects of executive function, i.e., negotiating obstacle related to motor planning and visuospatial ability, whereas dualtask related to attentional allocation and working memory (Galna et al, 2009;Herman et al, 2010;Beurskens and Bock, 2012;Beurskens et al, 2014). Executive function was vulnerable to special population like older adults (West, 1996;Raz et al, 1998;Buckner, 2004;Head et al, 2004;Hedden and Gabrieli, 2004;Gu et al, 2019;Zheng et al, 2021) and other mental or physical disabilities (Zou et al, 2018;Cai et al, 2020;Kong et al, 2022;Sun et al, 2022).…”