Does Aerobic and Resistance Exercise Influence Episodic Memory through Unique Mechanisms?

Abstract

Aerobic and resistance exercise (acute and chronic) independently and collectively induce beneficial responses in the brain that may influence memory function, including an increase in cerebral blood flow, neurogenesis, neuroelectrical alterations, and protein production. However, whether aerobic and resistance exercise improve memory via similar or distinct mechanisms has yet to be fully explained. Here, we review the unique influence of aerobic and resistance exercise on neural modulation, proteins, receptors, and ultimately, episodic memory. Resistance training may optimize neural communication, information processing and memory encoding by affecting the allocation of attentional resources. Moreover, resistance exercise can reduce inflammatory markers associated with neural communication while increasing peripheral and central BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) production. Aerobic training increases hippocampal levels of BDNF and TrkB (Tropomyosin receptor kinase B), protein kinases and glutamatergic proteins. Likewise, both aerobic and anaerobic exercise can increase CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein) phosphorylation. Thus, we suggest that aerobic and resistance exercise may influence episodic memory via similar and, potentially, distinct mechanisms.

The impact of an extracurricular outdoor physical activity program on long-term memory in adolescent during COVID-19 pandemic

“…Specifically, we believe that the relationship between outdoor physical activity and improvement of long-term memory could be founded in the 2 mainly factors which characterized this green exercise program, namely the aerobic component of physical exercise, and the participation to complex physical activity that required greater cognitive involvement. In connection with this, previously research supported the idea that aerobic exercise is able to stimulates hippocampal neurogenesis and consequently improves episodic memory (Alam et al, 2018;Loprinzi et al, 2019Loprinzi et al, , 2020. Several scientific evidence suggests that aerobic exercise increases brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) which is a peripheral indicator of hippocampal neurogenesis (Bekinschtein et al, 2011;Leal et al, 2017) whose increase is correlated with improved memory function (Fu et al 2017).…”

Effects of acute aerobic and resistance exercise on episodic memory function

“…Do I remember how to get to the grocery store?). Third, as described above, and thoroughly discussed elsewhere (Loprinzi, Moore, & Loenneke, 2020), there is physiological plausibility in which these two exercise modalities may have a differential effect on episodic memory. We also see practical value in studying both aerobic and resistance exercise.…”

“…Regarding the latter, strength training may have a slight differential influence on attentional resource allocation, which may help to optimise information processing and memory encoding. Further details are discussed in a review by Loprinzi, Moore, and Loenneke (2020).…”

“…This non-directional hypothesis regarding these two exercise modalities is a result of an unclear picture from past research. For example, as stated above, both exercise modalities, particularly chronic exercise studies among animal models, have shown improvements in episodic memory, yet they potentially involve distinct underlying mechanisms (Loprinzi, Moore, & Loenneke, 2020). However, despite these favourable effects for both chronic exercise modalities (in animal models) on episodic memory, very limited research has directly compared the effects of acute aerobic and resistance exercise on cognition, let alone episodic memory, and these findings produced inconsistent results (Dunsky et al, 2017;Pontifex et al, 2009).…”

The association of self-reported physical activity on human sensory long-term potentiation

“…Utilizing a direct and accurate measurement of exercise and/or physical fitness may provide an in-depth understanding of how exercise influences changes in LTP-like responses when differences are observed between active and non-active participants. Additionally, diverse modalities of exercise, such as aerobic physical activity and resistance training, may influence changes in neuroplasticity and synaptic communication through similar and unique mechanisms [31] – [33] . Further, we recognize that the sample is small for a 2 (group) × 3 (time) experimental design study.…”