The effect of aerobic exercise on interoception and cognitive function in healthy university students: a non-randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background Interoception refers to the body’s physiological responses that occur in response to emotions. This phenomenon influences decision-making, an important cognitive ability that affects the maintenance of an exercise routine. However, it is controversial whether interoception is a reliable measure of an individual’s traits or their response to emotion. Given this evidence, we hypothesized that performing an exercise with positive feelings could improve interoception and that the rational decision-making capabilities acquired by improved interoception would, in turn, help in maintaining an exercise routine. Persistent aerobic exercise is essential for improving cognitive and musculoskeletal function in the long term. Therefore, we aimed to investigate changes in interoception during moderate-intensity aerobic exercise at a level that might potentially improve cognitive function. Methods We devided 48 healthy university students into an exercise group (n = 37) and a control group (n = 11). The control group did not perform any exercises, while the exercise group performed bench step exercises at an intensity of 50% of heart rate reserve for 30 min a day, three times a week, for three months. We assessed their cognitive function by measuring their auditory information/working memory processing speed using a paced auditory serial addition task (PASAT) and evaluated their interoceptive accuracy (IA) using a heartbeat tracking task at baseline and 1, 2, and 3 months after the start of the exercise intervention. Results There was a significant positive correlation between IA and PASAT scores at baseline. However, exercise did not lead to a significant increase in PASAT scores of the exercise group as compared with the control group. IA scores increased at 2 and 3 months after the start of exercise only in the exercise group. Conclusions This preliminary study showed an improvement in interoception after persistent moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. We believe that exercise-induced improvement of interoception may facilitate exercise maintenance through improved cognitive function. Statistical analysis did not explain the non-uniformity of sample sizes, therefore, future studies should have larger sample sizes with equal subjects in each group to allow for better comparability and generalizability. Trial registration: UMIN, UMIN000042891. 04/01/2021, retrospectively registered.

Dance's Effect on Auditory and Visual Memory

“…To further the idea that exercise has a positive impact on auditory memory, a 2021 study was led by Yusaku Amaya, member of the Department of Psychosomatic and General Internal Medicine for Kansai Medical University. An auditory test confirmed that exercise improved test scores, but not in a significant way (Amaya et al, 2021). This evidence, and those from other sources, helped direct my observations to the hypothesis that dance would better enhance visual memory.…”

The effects of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on cognitive function in individuals with stroke-induced mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled pilot study

“…Research indicates that exercise enhances cognition, as the basal ganglia control fine motor movements during physical activity, forming a feedback loop with the prefrontal cortex that impacts higher brain functions, such as learning or cognition ( 18 ). A meta-analysis confirms that aerobic exercise generally improves cognitive function, irrespective of the initial cognitive state ( 29 ).…”

“…However, Tang et al reported that neither high- nor low-intensity aerobic exercise improved cognitive and executive functions in patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment ( 28 ). Amaya et al ( 18 ) emphasized the importance of exercise enjoyment for sustained engagement and noted that moderate-intensity aerobic exercise increased enjoyment, whereas high-intensity exercise affected decision-making. Studies have shown that both moderate and high-intensity aerobic exercises are linked to better cognitive improvements compared with low-intensity exercise ( 17 ).…”