The effects of exercise intensity and post-exercise recovery time on cortical activation as revealed by EEG alpha peak frequency

B Gutmann, P Zimmer, T Hülsdünker, J Lefebvre, S Binnebößel, M Oberste, W Bloch, H K Strüder, A Mierau

Publication: Contribution to journalJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Acute physical exercise (APE) induces an increase in the individual alpha peak frequency (iAPF), a cortical parameter associated with neural information processing speed. The aim of this study was to further scrutinize the influence of different APE intensities on post-exercise iAPF as well as its time course after exercise cessation. 95 healthy young (18-35 years) subjects participated in two randomized controlled experiments (EX1 and EX2). In EX1, all participants completed a graded exercise test (GXT) until exhaustion and were randomly allocated into different delay groups (immediately 0, 30, 60 and 90 minutes after GXT). The iAPF was determined before, immediately after as well as after the group-specific delay following the GXT. In EX2, participants exercised for 35 minutes at either 45-50%, 65-70% or 85-90% of their maximum heart rate (HRmax). The iAPF was determined before, immediately after as well as 20 minutes after exercise cessation. In EX1, the iAPF was significantly increased immediately after the GXT in all groups. This effect was not any more detectable after 30 minutes following exercise cessation. In EX2, a significant increase of the iAPF was found only after high-intensity (85-90% HRmax) exercise. The results indicate intense or exhaustive physical exercise is required to induce a transient increase in the iAPF that persists about 30 minutes following exercise cessation. Based on these findings, further research will have to scrutinize the behavioral implications associated with iAPF modulations following exercise.

Original languageEnglish
JournalNeuroscience letters
Volume668
Pages (from-to)159-163
Number of pages5
ISSN1872-7972
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01.2018

Research areas and keywords

  • Journal Article

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