ABSTRACT

　A large number of studies have shown that acute exercise improves cognitive performance. Increase in arousal level has been suggested to be associated with cognitive improvement induced by acute exercise. However, it is still unclear which parts of the brain are responsible for increase in arousal level. The first purpose of this study was to clarify the brain areas involved in the increase in arousal level after acute exercise. The second purpose was to test if the increase in arousal level is associated with altered functional connectivity with the brain areas. Eighteen young male participants were recruited in the experiment. Experiments were performed on two separate days in a randomized crossover design. In the Exercise condition, the participants cycled an ergometer at 40% peak oxygen uptake for 30 minutes. In the Control condition, the participants rested for 30 minutes without exercise. They performed cognitive tasks before and after acute exercise or resting period, and fMRI images were acquired during the cognitive task. Cognitive task was a Go/No-Go task that requires executive function. Cognitive performance was assessed by reaction time and response accuracy. After exercise, arousal level increased and cognitive performance improved. The increase in arousal level was associated with increased activations of the left middle frontal gyrus, the right frontal pole, and the right dorsal anterior cingulate cortex. The increased activations were accompanied by increase in functional connectivity among these areas. These results suggest that the increase in arousal level is associated with the activations of the prefrontal cortex, the frontal pole, and the cingulate cortex. The present results also suggest that neural network of these brain areas appears to contribute to cognitive improvement induced by acute exercise.

DECENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.41/The DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE