Effects of Physical Exercise on Individual Resting State EEG Alpha Peak Frequency

Abstract

Previous research has shown that both acute and chronic physical exercises can induce positive effects on brain function and this is associated with improvements in cognitive performance. However, the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of exercise on cognitive processing are not well understood. This study examined the effects of an acute bout of physical exercise as well as four weeks of exercise training on the individual resting state electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha peak frequency (iAPF), a neurophysiological marker of the individual's state of arousal and attention, in healthy young adults. The subjects completed a steady state exercise (SSE) protocol or an exhaustive exercise (EE) protocol, respectively, on two separate days. EEG activity was recorded for 2 min before exercise, immediately after exercise, and after 10 min of rest. All assessments were repeated following four weeks of exercise training to investigate whether an improvement in physical fitness modulates the resting state iAPF and/or the iAPF response to an acute bout of SSE and EE. The iAPF was significantly increased following EE (P = 0.012) but not following SSE. It is concluded that the iAPF is increased following intense exercise, indicating a higher level of arousal and preparedness for external input.

Effects of wheelchair propulsion on neuropathic pain and resting electroencephalography after spinal cord injury

“…The effect of exercise is mediated by changes in neural activity in the ascending reticular-activating system, and neurones of the reticular formation stimulate cortical activation by exciting the widespread projecting neurones of the non-specific thalamocortical projection system (24). We believe that decreased pain intensity and increased PAF were reflected in effect of WP exercise.…”

“…The assumption that slower PAF is a biomarker of NP is now widely accepted (21,22). Moreover, exercise increased PAF (24). Therefore, our hypothesis was that WP exercise including aerobic increases PAF simultaneously with the decrease in NP.…”

Transcranial alternating current stimulation to the inferior parietal lobe decreases mu suppression to egocentric, but not allocentric hand movements

“…The occipital and parietal sites were chosen based on the rationale that alpha oscillations are strongest over these areas, and due to numerous previous studies also using these electrodes to define IAF (e.g. Klimesch, 1999;Puzzo et al, 2013;Grandy et al, 2013;Gutman et al, 2015;Haegens et al, 2014;Cecere et al, 2015). Graphical representation and details of procedure are provided in Figure 3 below.…”

Performance Optimization in Sport: A Psychophysiological Approach

“…Other studies showed an association between different stages of exercising and modulations of the alpha rhythm. Despite contrasting results, it was shown that the shift from rest to exercise is linked to an increase in alpha band, while brain activity during and after exercise has been associated with both upward 31 and downward variations 31 . This rhythm was also studied as a marker of resources allocation during motor programming 32 .…”

“…This rhythm was also studied as a marker of resources allocation during motor programming 32 . Beta oscillation (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30),on the other hand, has a central position in the treatment of sensorimotor information and serves as a functional link between different brain regions such as the pre-motor, motor (M1), and somatosensory (S1) cortex, the supplementary motor area, and the cerebellum 31 . Beta oscillation could play the role of a motor "binding" linking the different commands related to a global gesture as suggested for sensory awareness 30 .…”