Passive exercise increases cerebral blood flow velocity and supports a postexercise executive function benefit

Abstract

Executive function entails high-level cognitive control supporting activities of daily living. Literature has shown that a single-bout of exercise involving volitional muscle activation (i.e., active exercise) improves executive function and that an increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) may contribute to this benefit. It

Physiological mechanism of acute exercise benefits for human cognition: possible involvement of dopamine release and central command

“…In addition, we should consider the gap between a recent report, which seems to partially contrast with the findings discussed here, showing that even passive exercise (i.e. no volitional muscle activity and minimal central command) has a cognitive facilitation effect (Shirzad et al, 2022).…”

Look into my eyes: What can eye-based measures tell us about the relationship between physical activity and cognitive performance?

“… 94 , 95 , 108 , 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 , 117 Five trials studied the effect of chronic physical training on cognitive performance and eye-based measures, 96 , 118 , 119 , 120 , 121 and 18 studies investigated the influence of an acute bout of physical exercise on cognitive performance and eye-based measures. 92 , 93 , 122 , 123 , 124 , 125 , 126 , 127 , 128 , 129 , 130 , 131 , 132 , 133 , 134 , 135 , 136 , 137 …”

“…pretest) Shellington et al (2018) 121 RCT with between-subject design and pretest/post-test comparisons (2) Passive CG (3) Middle-aged and older adults with type 2 diabetes and self-reported cognitive complaints ▪ SSE: n = 12 (4 females/8 males) ▪ CG: n = 13 (4 females/9 males) ▪ SSE: 65.9 ± 5.2 years ▪ CG: 71.2 ± 6.9 years (3.1) n.a. (3.2) SSE 170.0 ± 10.0 cm; CG 170.0 ± 10.0 cm; SSE: 94.5 ± 19.6 kg; CG: 88.4 ± 11.4 kg; SSE: 33.3 ± 4.8 kg/m 2 ; CG: 31.9 ± 4.6 kg/m 2 (1) Low intensity* (2) 60 min (including 5–10-min warm-up + 5–10-min cool-down) Pro- and antisaccade task, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Clock Drawing test, and Cambridge Brain Sciences cognitive test battery (2) ▪ (–) No statistically significant changes in pre- to post-test of pro- and antisaccade performance metrics Shirzad et al (2012) 127 (1) RCT with within-subject design and pretest/post-test comparisons (2) Passive exercise CC (i.e., mechanically driven cycle ergometer) and passive CC (i.e., seated rest) (3) Healthy younger adults (students) ▪ n = 28 (11 females/17 males) ▪ 22.3 ± 2.0 years (3.1) Recreationally active based on GLETQ (62.0 ± 26.0 points) (3.2) n.r./n.r./n.r. (1) Light intensity (37 W) * (2) 20 min (+ 2 min warm-up and cool-down, respectively) (1) Pro- and antisaccade task (2) ▪↓ antisaccade (but not prosaccade) RT from pretest to post-test ▪ ↓ Negative and low correlation between steady-state BVs and post-exercise antisaccade RTs Shukla et al (2020) 128 (1) Non-randomized trial with pretest/post-test comparisons (2) Passive CG (i.e., seated rest - Experiment 2) (3) Healthy younger adults (students) ▪ n = 35 (19 females/16 males) ▪ Experiment 1: EX: n = 20 (11 females/9 males) ▪ Experiment 2: CG: n = 15 (8 females/7 males) ▪ Experiment 1: EX: 21.3 ± 18.0 years ▪ Experiment 2: CG: 20.3 ± 2.3 years (3.1) Recreationally active based on GLETQ (EX: 65.0 ± 17.0 points; CG: 59.0 ± 18.0 points) (3.2) n.r./n.r./n.r.…”

“…Most of the reviewed studies included younger healthy adults with normal cognitive performance (based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the respective studies) who were mainly students and could be classified as recreationally active, 92 , 93 , 94 , 95 , 108 , 111 , 122 , 123 , 124 , 126 , 127 , 128 , 129 , 130 , 131 , 132 , 135 , 137 whereas 6 of the studies compared different types of younger athletes. 109 , 110 , 114 , 115 , 116 , 136 The remaining trials examined (a) healthy school-aged children, 96 (b) younger adults with mobile phone addiction, 134 (c) healthy community-dwelling older adults, 119 , 125 , 133 (d) older adults with self-reported cognitive complaints 118 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, 121 (e) older adults with objective cognitive impairments, 119 (f) healthy older adults, 113 , 120 or (g) a population with a broad age range from 18 to 60 years 112 ( Table 1 ).…”

The effect of exercise on the prevention of gestational hypertension in obese and overweight pregnant women: An updated meta-analysis

“…Exercise is widely recognized as a health maintenance method and it has numerous benefits ( 19 , 20 ). It is acknowledged that exercise may accelerate metabolism, build cardiorespiratory capacity, improve immunity, and relieve mental stress ( 21 – 23 ).…”