Pupillometry Reveals the Role of Arousal in a Postexercise Benefit to Executive Function

Abstract

A single bout of aerobic exercise improves executive function; however, the mechanism(s) underlying this improvement remains unclear. Here, we employed a 20-min bout of aerobic exercise, and at pre- and immediate post-exercise sessions examined executive function via pro- (i.e., saccade to veridical target location) and anti-saccade (i.e., saccade mirror symmetrical to a target) performance and pupillometry metrics. Notably, tonic and phasic pupillometry responses in oculomotor control provided a framework to determine the degree that arousal and/or executive resource recruitment influence behavior. Results demonstrated a pre- to post-exercise decrease in pro- and anti-saccade reaction times (p = 0.01) concurrent with a decrease and increase in tonic baseline pupil size and task-evoked pupil dilations, respectively (ps < 0.03). Such results demonstrate that an exercise-induced improvement in saccade performance is related to an executive-mediated “shift” in physiological and/or psychological arousal, supported by the locus coeruleus norepinephrine system to optimize task engagement.

Effects of Acute Resistance Exercise on Executive Function: A Systematic Review of the Moderating Role of Intensity and Executive Function Domain

“…The moderating effect of RE intensity on EF outcomes may be related to physiological processes resultant from exercise. Arousal level is frequently identified as a potential mechanism underlying the effects of acute exercise on EF [63][64][65]. Dose-response studies have illustrated an inverted-U shaped relationship between acute RE and cognitive performance, with optimal effects occurring at moderate RE intensity (i.e., moderate levels of arousal) [47,66].…”

Pupil dynamics during very light exercise predict benefits to prefrontal cognition

“…Previous human studies have found that cognitive task demands lead to increases in pupil dilation by applying pupillometry during cognitive tasks ( van der Wel and van Steenbergen, 2018 ). In an attempt to build on this, recent studies have challenged the relationship between acute exercise and pupil change during cognitive tasks ( Ayala and Heath, 2021 ; McGowan et al, 2019 ; Shigeta et al, 2021 ), but the results of cross-over designs are notable for failing to detect significant pupil change and associations with executive function ( McGowan et al, 2019 ; Shigeta et al, 2021 ). There might be limitations in extracting components of acute exercise effects from dynamic pupil change that interact with cognitive state change, screen-derived light stimuli, and spontaneous fluctuations.…”

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 …”

“…inactivity) stimulus with the level of usual physical activity ▪ ↑ odds of gazing first at and gaze duration on a physical activity ( vs . inactivity) stimuli increased with a higher level of usual physical activity Thom et al (2021) 135 (1) Non-randomized trial with within-subject cross-over design and pretest/post-test comparisons (2) Passive CG (i.e., seated rest) (3) Healthy younger adults ▪ n = 34 (18 females) ▪ 21.1 ± 1.4 years (3.1) 317.2 ± 44.3 kcals/week (3.2) n.a./n.a./23.3 ± 2.3 kg/m 2 (1) Vigorous intensity (65%–85% HRR) (2) 30 min (1) Facial emotion task (2) ▪ (–) No statistically significant differences between conditions concerning fixation measures Pupillometry Ayala et al (2021) 92 (1) Non-randomized trial with pretest/post-test comparisons (2) n.a. (3) Healthy younger adults (students) ▪ n = 16 (8 females/8 males) ▪ 22.9 ± 1.9 years (3.1) Recreationally active based on GLTEQ (63 ± 16 points) (3.2) n.r./n.r.…”

“…Recent works 92 , 93 have demonstrated better cognitive performance and increased tonic pupil dilation (i.e., at rest) during inhibitory control tasks following acute bouts of physical exercise in samples of younger adults ( n = 16 92 and n = 43 93 ). While these findings suggest an exercise-induced increase in the arousal-related activation of the locus-coeruleus norepinephrine system (operationalized by tonic pupil dilation), there is no evidence for a correlation between changes in tonic pupil dilation and exercise-induced change in cognitive performance.…”