Boost the Brain with HIIT. Neurophysiological Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training

Pixa, NH.; Voelcker-Rehage, C.

Abstract in digital collection (conference)

Abstract

Introduction High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been revealed as a time-efficient strategy to amplify cognition and behavior (Calverley et al., 2020), while its neurophysiological effects are less clear. Following the arousal/activation perspective (Barry & Blasio, 2017), a higher arousal-level may optimize the brain for an upcoming task (activation), which is represented in the amount of brain oscillatory alpha activity (α = 8-13 Hz; e.g., power) measurable with electroencephalography (EEG). Hence, the study aimed at investigating a potential shift in arousal due to HIIT as a putative mechanism of action by contrasting resting α-EEG power before (α-EEG-pre) with directly after (α-EEG-post) high-intensity interval training (HIIT), low-intensity continuous training (LICT), and an inactive control condition (CC). Methods 45 participants between 18 and 34 years (mean 23.18 ± 4.01; 27 female) performed either a HIIT (n = 15, 8 female), or a LICT (n = 15, 9 female) on stationary bicycling ergometer (matched groups based on gender, age, and cardiovascular fitness), or an inactive control condition (n = 15, 10 female). EEG was measured at rest (open eyes looking at a fixation cross) before and after cessation of the HIIT (5 min warm-up at 40% max watt, 3 x 3 min at 90% max watt interspersed with 2 x 2 min at 60% max watt, and 5 min cool-down at 20% max watt), LICT (25 min at 20% max watt), and inactive CC (25 min audiobook listening). Results Preliminary results of Bayesian ANOVA’s revealed neither difference in global α-EEG (BFincl = 1.67) nor brain regional-specific differences in the sagittal (left, midline, right) or coronal (frontal, central, posterior) plane due to HIIT compared to LICT and CC (all BFincl < .30). Discussion Our first findings reveal no changes in the brain’s arousal level due to HIIT as reflected by no differences in α-EEG independent of exercise intensity. However, further analytical steps are necessary to deepen the understanding and clarify the absence of the assumed shift in arousal, which might be one mechanism of boosting the brain with physical exercise. References Barry, R. J. & Blasio, F. M. de (2017). EEG differences between eyes-closed and eyes-open resting remain in healthy ageing. Biological psychology, 129, 293–304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2017.09.010 Calverley, T. A., Ogoh, S., Marley, C. J., Steggall, M., Marchi, N., Brassard, P., Lucas, S. J. E., Cotter, J. D., Roig, M., Ainslie, P. N., Wisløff, U. & Bailey, D. M. (2020). HIITing the brain with exercise: mechanisms, consequences and practical recommendations. The Journal of physiology, 598(13), 2513–2530. https://doi.org/10.1113/JP275021

Details zur Publikation

Release year: 2022
Language in which the publication is written: English
Link to the full text: https://www.dvs2022.de/index.php