Study Overview:

• Publication Date: 2020
• Research Timeline: Systematic review of studies conducted between 2000 and 2019

This review synthesized findings on the relationship between acute aerobic exercise and its capacity to enhance neuroplasticity within the motor cortex, using various experimentally induced paradigms.

Purpose of the Study:

The researchers aimed to explore how acute bouts of aerobic exercise influence neuroplasticity in healthy individuals. This was motivated by the need to understand mechanisms by which exercise supports cognitive and motor health, especially through the enhancement of neuroplasticity.

Participant Details:

• Population Studied: Healthy adults aged 18–65 years, with no neurological or psychological impairments.
• Sample Size Across Studies: Included 128 participants, 65% of whom were female.

Intervention and Methods:

• Exercise Protocols:
  Included cycling or treadmill exercise ranging from low-intensity continuous sessions to high-intensity interval training. Exercise durations varied between 20–30 minutes.
• Neuroplasticity Measures:
  Neuroplasticity was assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and other paradigms, including paired associative stimulation (PAS) and theta-burst stimulation (TBS).
• Control Conditions:
  A resting condition was used as the comparator in all studies.

Key Findings:

• Enhanced Neuroplasticity:
  Acute aerobic exercise enhanced neuroplasticity outcomes in 7 out of 12 experiments, particularly in tasks involving high-intensity interval training or moderate-intensity continuous cycling.
• Intensity and Timing Effects:
  High-intensity interval training produced the greatest neuroplastic changes, while low-intensity continuous exercise showed moderate effects. Exercise preceding neuroplasticity paradigms (e.g., TBS) yielded more consistent enhancements compared to exercise performed afterward.
• Physiological Mechanisms:
  Improvements were hypothesized to involve upregulation of neurotrophic factors like brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and modulation of cortisol levels.

Implications and Importance:

This review highlights the role of acute aerobic exercise as a potential primer for enhancing neuroplasticity, suggesting practical applications in cognitive and motor rehabilitation. It also underscores the need to standardize exercise intensity and duration in future research to optimize neuroplasticity outcomes.

Takeaway Message:

Acute aerobic exercise, particularly high-intensity interval training, is an effective strategy to enhance neuroplasticity in healthy adults. These findings provide a foundation for designing exercise interventions aimed at improving cognitive and motor functions through enhanced brain plasticity.

Reference for Further Reading:

Mellow, R. L., Goldsworthy, M. R., Coussens, S., & Smith, A. E. (2020). Acute aerobic exercise and neuroplasticity of the motor cortex: A systematic review. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 23(4), 408–414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2019.10.015