The effect of acute aerobic exercise on the consolidation of motor memories

Abstract

I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis. This is a true copy of the thesis, including any required final revisions, as accepted by my examiners.I understand that my thesis may be made electronically available to the public.

Exercise alters cortico-basal ganglia network functional connectivity: A mesoscopic level analysis informed by anatomic parcellation defined in the mouse brain connectome

“…Whereas traditional motor learning theories emphasize learning specific to the context and task performed through engagement of the PFC, recent studies suggest that a general, transferable knowledge about skill learning processes that involves the CP and motor cortex, may be acquired through prior motor learning (Seidler, 2004). The extent of generalization may depend on the breadth and duration of experience obtained, the degree of arousal (Loras et al, 2020), context, and intensity (Holman and Staines, 2021). Lehmann et al (2020) showed that subjects who underwent cardiovascular exercise subsequently learned a dynamic balancing task faster compared to controls undergoing stretching.…”

Walking and Balance Outcomes Are Improved Following Brief Intensive Locomotor Skill Training but Are Not Augmented by Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Persons With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury

“…Aerobic exercise and non-invasive brain stimulation have each been explored as potential neuromodulation approaches that have the capacity to reinforce mechanisms that subserve neuroplasticity and promote motor learning ( Nitsche et al, 2003 ; Singh et al, 2014b ; Skriver et al, 2014 ; Holman and Staines, 2021 ; Kim et al, 2021a ). Intensive aerobic exercise facilitates neuroplasticity through various mechanisms, including enhanced blood flow to the motor cortex ( Singh and Staines, 2015 ), upregulation of glucocorticoids ( Milani et al, 2010 ) and neurotrophic factors ( He et al, 2013 ), and increased states of arousal ( McMorris et al, 2015 ).…”

“…Intensive aerobic exercise facilitates neuroplasticity through various mechanisms, including enhanced blood flow to the motor cortex ( Singh and Staines, 2015 ), upregulation of glucocorticoids ( Milani et al, 2010 ) and neurotrophic factors ( He et al, 2013 ), and increased states of arousal ( McMorris et al, 2015 ). A single-session of moderate- to high-intensity aerobic exercise is associated with an increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor ( Mang et al, 2014 ), enhanced long-term potentiation-like plasticity ( Singh et al, 2014b ), and greater retention of skilled motor tasks ( Holman and Staines, 2021 ). These processes are believed to augment motor skill training through an effect on motor program consolidation (offline processes) ( Wanner et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Moderate- to high-intensity exercise is associated with increased endogenous levels of BDNF in persons with SCI ( Rojas Vega et al, 2008 ; Leech and Hornby, 2017 ). In neurologically intact adults, a single session of intense cycling is associated with an increase in serum BDNF ( Skriver et al, 2014 ) and enhanced motor cortical activity ( Holman and Staines, 2021 ), which, in both cases, were positively correlated with retention of a novel motor task. It is believed that higher-intensity motor training is superior to lower-intensity training for improving motor function through the upregulation and release of BDNF that encourages mechanisms that support skill acquisition and learning.…”

High-intensity acute exercise impacts motor learning in healthy older adults

“…Increasing evidence suggests exercise can bene t both acquisition and consolidation stages of motor learning (for review see Wanner,Cheng & Stieb 20 ). While some studies show that a single bout of acute cardiorespiratory exercise can improve motor performance and online learning [21][22][23] accumulating evidence indicates that exercise is particularly bene cial in enhancing the o ine consolidation of a new motor skill [24][25][26][27] . Although several studies have found no apparent bene t of acute exercise on motor consolidation [28][29][30][31] , a recent meta-analysis suggests this may be explained by variations in motor learning task and exercise characteristics Exercise intensity appears to be of particular importance, with greater bene ts following high-intensity exercise 32,33 .…”