New research provides evidence that the brain’s arousal system plays a role in the cognitive benefits of exercise. Results published in NeuroImagealso demonstrated that changes in pupil diameter could serve as a predictive marker for exercise-induced cognitive enhancement, providing a new way to understand the effects of exercise on the brain.
Previous research has shown that very light exercise, such as yoga or slow jogging, can improve cognitive performance without causing stress or negative mood responses. However, the neural mechanisms underlying this increase are not well understood. Researchers are particularly interested in understanding how the brain’s excitability systems, specifically the catecholamine systems derived from the locus coeruleus (LC), might be involved in the beneficial effects of exercise on executive function.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has reduced our physical activity, which can lead to severe cognitive and mental health declines,” said the study authors. Hideaki soybeansHe is a professor at Tsukuba University.
As a countermeasure, light, stress-free exercise, such as yoga, tai chi, and slow running, while mindful, are effective therapeutic candidates for brain health. We have shown in translational studies in animals and humans that exercise stimulates brain function even in stress-free, intense lighting conditions. However, the technology doesn’t exist to read brain activity in real-time during very light exercise in humans. For this reason, current research focuses on the pupil of the eye, which is known as the window into the mind.”
To conduct the study, the researchers designed a trial involving healthy young adults. The research sample consisted of 34 participants, 6 of whom were women and 28 men. The researchers recruited participants with no self-reported history of neurological or psychiatric disorders. They aimed to select individuals who were relatively healthy and free of conditions that could confound study results.
The study followed a crossover design, in which participants experienced two conditions on different days: a control resting condition (CTL) and a high-intensity exercise (EX) condition. In the EX condition, participants did 10 minutes of high-intensity cycling exercise, whereas in the CTL condition, they rested. The training load is adjusted individually to the aerobic capacity of each participant.
Researchers use a variety of techniques to collect data during the experiment. Pupillary diameter was measured continuously using an eye tracking device, which provides insight into changes in arousal and cognitive states. Near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to monitor prefrontal cortex activity during an executive task known as the Stroop color word task. This task involves responding to color names displayed in inconsistent colors, which requires cognitive control to overcome the interference.
This study reveals pupil dilation during very light exercise and the extent to which this dilation is associated with subsequent improvement in executive function performance. This pupil dilation has been linked to the brain’s noradrenergic excitation system, particularly the LC.
“When we first saw the initial pupil diameter data, we were amazed by the radical dynamic change from rest to moderate exercise,” says Soya. It used to be said: no pain, no gain. However, it is interesting that we can clearly confirm in raw pupil data that the brain is activated even with very light exercise in humans.”
fNIRS measurements show increased activity in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during a postexercise function task. This brain region is known to be involved in executive functions such as cognitive control and decision making.
The results show that “even 10 minutes of very light exercise can improve prefrontal cortex function,” Soya told PsyPost. “This is good news for those who don’t like to exercise.”
Also, the pupils reflect brainstem activity, including the brain’s noradrenergic excitation system. In this finding, the pupils were sensitively dilated during exercise, predicting improved prefrontal cortex function. Perception shown by brain stimulation to enhance frontal cognition during exercise “Very mildly new in human participants. Additionally, looking to the future, monitoring pupils has promising potential as a new biomarker that can be used to predict the effects of exercise on the brain.”
But the study, like all research, has a few caveats.
“It is important to note that our experiment was strictly controlled by light and visual stimuli for experiment validation,” said Soya. “Pupils are highly reflective of the effects of visual information, so caution should be exercised when applying these findings in practice.”
“We looked at the neuroscientific mechanisms of the effects of exercise on the brain, especially moderate exercise,” the researchers added. “We encourage you to take a look at the other studies that have been done and start doing some light exercise today.”
learning, “Pupillary dynamics during very light exercise predicts frontal cognitive benefitDitulis oleh Ryuta Kuwamizu, Yudai Yamazaki, Naoki Aoike, Taichi Hiraga, Toshiaki Hata, Michael A. Yassa, dan Hideaki Soya.
2023-08-13 21:42:53
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