Modulation of cortical and subcortical brain areas at low and high exercise intensities.

INTRODUCTION: The brain plays a key role in the perceptual regulation of exercise, yet neuroimaging techniques have only demonstrated superficial brain areas responses during exercise, and little is known about the modulation of the deeper brain areas at different intensities. OBJECTIVES/METHODS: Using a specially designed functional MRI (fMRI) cycling ergometer, we have determined the sequence in which the cortical and subcortical brain regions are modulated at low and high ratings perceived exertion (RPE) during an incremental exercise protocol. RESULTS: Additional to the activation of the classical motor control regions (motor, somatosensory, premotor and supplementary motor cortices and cerebellum), we found the activation of the regions associated with autonomic regulation (ie, insular cortex) (ie, positive blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal) during exercise. Also, we showed reduced activation (negative BOLD signal) of cognitive-related areas (prefrontal cortex), an effect that increased during exercise at a higher perceived intensity (RPE 13-17 on Borg Scale). The motor cortex remained active throughout the exercise protocol whereas the cerebellum was activated only at low intensity (RPE 6-12), not at high intensity (RPE 13-17). CONCLUSIONS: These findings describe the sequence in which different brain areas become activated or deactivated during exercise of increasing intensity, including subcortical areas measured with fMRI analysis.

Brain stimulation modulates the autonomic nervous system, rating of perceived exertion and performance during maximal exercise.

BACKGROUND: The temporal and insular cortex (TC, IC) have been associated with autonomic nervous system (ANS) control and the awareness of emotional feelings from the body. Evidence shows that the ANS and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) regulate exercise performance. Non-invasive brain stimulation can modulate the cortical area directly beneath the electrode related to ANS and RPE, but it could also affect subcortical areas by connection within the cortico-cortical neural networks. This study evaluated the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the TC on the ANS, RPE and performance during a maximal dynamic exercise. METHODS: Ten trained cyclists participated in this study (33±9 years; 171.5±5.8 cm; 72.8±9.5 kg; 10-11 training years). After 20-min of receiving either anodal tDCS applied over the left TC (T3) or sham stimulation, subjects completed a maximal incremental cycling exercise test. RPE, heart rate (HR) and R-R intervals (as a measure of ANS function) were recorded continuously throughout the tests. Peak power output (PPO) was recorded at the end of the tests. RESULTS: With anodal tDCS, PPO improved by ~4% (anodal tDCS: 313.2±29.9 vs 301.0±19.8 watts: sham tDCS; p=0.043), parasympathetic vagal withdrawal was delayed (anodal tDCS: 147.5±53.3 vs 125.0±35.4 watts: sham tDCS; p=0.041) and HR was reduced at submaximal workloads. RPE also increased more slowly during exercise following anodal tDCS application, but maximal RPE and HR values were not affected by cortical stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that non-invasive brain stimulation over the TC modulates the ANS activity and the sensory perception of effort and exercise performance, indicating that the brain plays a crucial role in the exercise performance regulation.

Prefrontal Cortex Oxygenation During Exercise in Older Adults with Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome.

Motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR) is a pre-dementia syndrome characterized by subjective memory complaints and gait impairments that may be related to lower prefrontal cortex (PFC) function. Acute bouts of aerobic exercise are shown to improve PFC function, however, the acute effects of exercise on PFC oxygenation have not yet been examined in MCR. This study aims to characterize the PFC oxygenation responses during acute exercise in older adults with MCR. Nineteen older adults with MCR performed a submaximal cycling exercise protocol. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is used to measure concentrations of oxygenated (OxyHb) and deoxygenated (DeoxyHb) hemoglobin from the PFC. There is a trend for increased OxyHb concentrations and decreased DeooxyHb concentrations during exercise. Exercise also induced significant increases in ratings of perceived exertion (RPEs) and heart rate. A significant, positive correlation between PFC OxyHb and RPEs during the cycling exercise are also observed. The findings reveal that PFC oxygenation increases during exercise in an intensity-dependent manner and the subjective perception of exertion is associated with the magnitude of PFC oxygenation. These results suggest that moderate-intensity cycling exercise may have beneficial effects on increasing cerebral blood flow in the PFC of older adults with MCR.

The mediating role of inhibitory control in the relationship between prefrontal cortex hemodynamics and exercise performance in adults with overweight or obesity.

Physical inactivity has been suggested to impair physical performance, cognitive functions and facilitate weight gain. One hypothesis is that long periods of physical inactivity could impair oxygen delivery to the prefrontal cortex (PFC), impairing one's cognitive ability to inhibit unhealthy automated behaviors and, therefore, reduce exercise tolerance. The present study sought to further understand the relationship among PFC hemodynamics, inhibitory control, and exercise tolerance in individuals with low physical fitness levels who are overweight or obese. Thirty-four participants were asked to perform a series of inhibitory control tests (i.e., Stroop task) in one testing session and complete an incremental cycling exercise test with hemodynamic fluctuations of the PFC measured with functional near-infrared spectroscopy in another session. Our results indicate that exercise performance varied with PFC oxygenation. We also found that inhibitory control played a key role mediating the relationship between PFC oxygenation and exercise performance, suggesting that the cognitive ability to inhibit automated responses has an impact on exercise behavior in adults with overweight and obesity.

Insular cortex activity during food-specific inhibitory control is associated with academic achievement in children.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Inhibitory control (IC) is usually poorer in children with overweight and obesity and has been associated with unhealthy eating behaviors and lower academic achievement. Food-specific IC tasks depicting salient unhealthy foods may be more sensitive to predicting fat accumulation and unhealthy behaviors than traditional IC tasks. However, the neural activation patterns in response to food-specific IC remain unclear, especially in developing children`s brains. Here, we investigated brain activity associated with food-specific IC in children with accumulated fat mass. SUBJECTS/METHODS: 36 children with overweight and obesity performed a food-specific Go/No-Go task in an MRI scanner. We assessed the children's body composition with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, academic achievement, somatic maturation, and cardiorespiratory fitness. RESULTS: The left insular cortex was significantly activated during successful inhibition of palatable food cues and was associated with higher academic achievement. Also, linear regression showed that academic achievement correlated with insular cortex activation even when controlling for somatic maturation, cognitive performance, and cardiorespiratory fitness. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that insular cortex activation, an area known for rational and emotional processing, is associated with successful inhibitory control in response to food images in children with overweight and obesity, while academic performance seems to play a role in the magnitude of this activation.

Effects of 12 weeks of high-intensity interval, moderate-intensity continuous and self-selected intensity exercise training protocols on cognitive inhibitory control in overweight/obese adults: A randomized trial.

Growing evidence shows that aerobic exercise improves cognitive function. However, it is unclear how exercising at different exercise intensities affects cognitive inhibitory control in overweight/obese adults. Herein we compared the effects of 12 weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), and self-selected intensity training (SSIT) on cognitive inhibitory control in overweight/obese adults. A total of 64 adults (59.4% women, 31.3 ± 7.1 years, 29 ± 2.5 kg/m²) were randomized into three walking/running groups: HIIT, MICT and SSIT. All groups performed three exercise sessions per week on an outdoor running track for 12 weeks. Cognitive inhibitory control was assessed at baseline and after the exercising programs using a computerized version of the Stroop Color-Words test. The HIIT and SSIT resulted in a faster Stroop effect (i.e. enhanced performance) when compared to MICT (p=.018; p= .026), however, there were no significant differences between the HIIT and SSIT groups (p> .05). The enhanced Stroop effect was correlated with increases in cardiorespiratory fitness after HIIT (r= -.521, p= .018) and decreases in body fat after MICT (r= .671, p= .001). These findings may suggest that overweight/obese adults performing exercise interventions at higher intensities or self-selected intensity may enhance their cognitive ability to inhibit automated behavioral responses.Highlights HIIT and/or SSIT are more effective than MICT in improving cognitive inhibitory control after 12-weeks in overweight/obese adults.Increases in cardiorespiratory fitness and decreases in body fat after HIIT and MICT were correlated with improvements in cognitive inhibitory control.Our study highlights the possibility of performing different exercise programs in an outdoor environment to improve cognitive function in overweight/obese adults.

Additional Exergames to Regular Tennis Training Improves Cognitive-Motor Functions of Children but May Temporarily Affect Tennis Technique: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

This study evaluated the effects of an exergame program (TennisVirtua-4, Playstation Kinect) combined with traditional tennis training on autonomic regulation, tennis technique, gross motor skills, clinical reaction time, and cognitive inhibitory control in children. Sixty-three children were randomized into four groups (1st - two exergame and two regular trainings sessions/week, 2nd - one exergame and one regular training sessions/week, 3rd - two regular trainings sessions/week, and 4th - one regular training session/week) and compared at baseline, 6-month immediately post intervention and at 1-year follow-up post intervention. At 6-month post intervention the combined exergame and regular training sessions revealed: higher breathing frequency, heart rate (all ps ≤ 0.001) and lower skin conductance levels (p = 0.001) during exergaming; additional benefits in the point of contact and kinetic chain elements of the tennis forehand and backhand technique (all ps ≤ 0.001); negative impact on the shot preparation and the follow-through elements (all ps ≤ 0.017); higher ball skills (as part of the gross motor skills) (p < 0.001); higher percentages of clinical reaction time improvement (1st -9.7% vs 3rd group -7.4% and 2nd -6.6% vs 4th group -4.4%, all ps ≤ 0.003) and cognitive inhibitory control improvement in both congruent (1st -20.5% vs 3rd group -18.4% and 2nd -11.5% vs 4th group -9.6%, all ps ≤ 0.05) and incongruent (1st group -19.1% vs 3rd group -12.5% and 2nd group -11.4% vs 4th group -6.5%, all ps ≤ 0.001) trials. The 1-year follow-up test showed no differences in the tennis technique, clinical reaction time and cognitive inhibitory control improvement between groups with the same number of trainings per week. The findings support exergaming as an additional training tool, aimed to improve important cognitive-motor tennis skills by adding dynamics to the standardized training process. Caution should be placed to planning this training, e.g., in a mesocycle, since exergaming might decrease the improvement of specific tennis technique parts of the trainees. (ClinicalTrials.gov; ID: NCT03946436).

Housing type is associated with objectively measured changes in movement behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic in older adults with hypertension: An exploratory study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the association between housing characteristics with objectively measured changes in physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) during the COVID-19 pandemic in older adults with hypertension. METHODS: Thirty-five older adults with hypertension were included in this exploratory study. Accelerometer-based PA and SB measures were assessed before and during a period of social distancing policy imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Housing type, housing surface area and household size were tested as predictors of changes in PA and SB. A generalized linear mixed model was used for the analysis. RESULTS: Housing type was associated with changes in PA and SB. Individuals residing in an apartment showed a greater decrease in light PA on weekdays (ß= -65 min/day, p=0.035) and a trend for an increase in SB (ß= 55 min/day, p=0.056) compared to those residing in a detached house. Individuals residing in a row house showed a greater decrease in moderate-vigorous PA (ß= -10 min/day, p=0.037) and steps/day (ß= -2064, p=0.010) compared to those residing in a detached house. Individuals residing in an apartment showed a greater decrease in light PA on the weekends (ß= -83 min/day, p=0.015) and an increase in SB (ß= 72 min/day, p=0.036) compared to those residing in a detached house. No association was found for housing surface area and household size. CONCLUSIONS: Older adults with hypertension residing in an apartment or row house have greater unhealthy changes in movement behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further studies are needed to confirm our preliminary findings.

Effects of Cognitive Over Postural Demands on Upright Standing Among Young Adults.

A growing body of research has shown that static stance control (e.g., body sway) is influenced by cognitive demands (CD), an effect that may be related to competition for limited central resources. Measures of stance control have also been impacted by postural demands (PD) (e.g., stable vs. unstable stances). However, less is known of any possible interactions between PD and CD on static stance control in populations with intact balance control and ample cognitive resources, like young healthy adults. In this study, among the same participants, we factorially compared the impact of PD with and without CD on static stance control. Thirty-four healthy young adults wore inertial measurement units (IMU) while completing static stance tasks for 30 seconds in three different PD positions: feet apart, feet together, and tandem feet. After completing these tasks alone, participants performed these tasks with CD by concurrently completing verbal serial seven subtractions from a randomly selected three-digit number. For two dependent measures, path length and jerk, there were main effects of CD and PD but no interaction effect between these factors. For all other stance control parameters, there was only a PD main effect. Thus, adding a cognitive demand to postural demands, while standing upright, may have an independent impact on stance control, but CD does not seem to interact with PD. These results suggest that young healthy adults may be less sensitive to simple PD and CD due to their greater inherent balance control and available cognitive resources. Future work might explore more complex PD and CD combinations to determine the boundaries under which young adults' resources are taxed.

Systolic blood pressure mediates the association between body mass index and inhibitory control in children.

Here, we examine whether systolic blood pressure (SBP) mediates the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and inhibitory control in children. Twenty children with high blood pressure (HBP) were approximately matched with twenty children with low blood pressure (LBP) by fitness, BMI, somatic maturation, sex and age. Inhibitory control was measured by a cognitive Go/Nogo task, where number of commission errors during Nogo trials and reaction time during Go trials were used as performance. We compared performance between the two groups and conducted a mediation analysis using SBP as mediator of the relationship between BMI and commission errors. Results revealed that HBP children presented higher number of commission errors, compared to LBP children. Moreover, SBP mediated the relation between BMI and number of errors. Thus, early exposure to high levels of SBP can negatively impact inhibitory control and SBP acts as a mediator between BMI and inhibitory functioning in children.

Rewiring the Addicted Brain Through a Psychobiological Model of Physical Exercise.

Drug addiction is a worldwide public health problem, resulting from multiple phenomena, including those both social and biological. Chronic use of psychoactive substances has been shown to induce structural and functional changes in the brain that impair cognitive control and favor compulsive seeking behavior. Physical exercise has been proven to improve brain function and cognition in both healthy and clinical populations. While some studies have demonstrated the potential benefits of physical exercise in treating and preventing addictive behaviors, few studies have investigated its cognitive and neurobiological contributions to drug-addicted brains. Here, we review studies in humans using cognitive behavioral responses and neuroimaging techniques, which reveal that exercise can be an effective auxiliary treatment for drug addictive disorders. Moreover, we describe the neurobiological mechanisms by which exercise-induced neuroplasticity in the prefrontal cortex improves executive functions and may decrease compulsive behaviors in individuals prone to substance use disorders. Finally, we propose an integrative cognitive-psychobiological model of exercise for use in future research in drug addiction and practical guidance in clinical settings.

Fat mass predicts food-specific inhibitory control in children.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Impaired inhibitory control has been associated with obesity, high blood pressure and lack of physical fitness. These impairments are thought to be related to decreased cognitive control over excessive food consumption and may start in childhood. However, previous studies in children have examined inhibitory control deficits using general (non-food-specific) tasks and relied on body mass index, which does not distinguish the amount of fat mass. As fat mass, hypertension and physical fitness have been shown to play a role in cognition, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between these variables and food specific inhibitory control in children. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Children's (n = 48; Age 10.7 ±â€¯0.6 years) general characteristics, fat mass, cardiorespiratory fitness, blood pressure and performance on a food-specific inhibitory control task (Go/No-go) were measured across two sessions. RESULTS: Fat mass and sex were associated with inhibitory control performance, while no associations were found for cardiorespiratory fitness, blood pressure and other potential confounding variables (i.e. age, pubertal timing, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, scholar test performance and heart rate). Linear regression analyses showed that only fat mass predicted poorer food-specific inhibitory control (ß = 0.36; ΔR2 = 0.04; p < .05) and sex predicted inhibitory control for toys (control condition) (ß = 0.42; ΔR2 = 0.11; p < .01). Neither blood pressure nor cardiorespiratory fitness predicted food specific inhibitory control. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that fat mass is an independent predictor of inhibitory control for food in children.

Influence of Judo Experience on Neuroelectric Activity During a Selective Attention Task.

OBJECTIVE: We compared the cognitive performance and neuroelectric responses during a selective attentional task in judo athletes with different levels of expertise. METHODS: Judo black and white belt athletes performed both general and specific fitness tests while simultaneously completing a Stroop color-word test recorded by 64 electroencephalogram channels. RESULTS: Cognitive behavioral performance and event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP) present no differences between groups. However, the topographic analysis found different neural source patterns in each group. Judo black belts compared to judo white belts presented a greater peak amplitude of P300 in the middle frontal gyrus and of N200 in the cuneus, but slower latency of P300 in the precuneus. CONCLUSION: Despite no difference in cognitive behavioral performance, judo expertise causes a difference in the allocation of attentional and conflict detection neural resources.

Cardiorespiratory Fitness Predicts Greater Vagal Autonomic Activity in Drug Users Under Stress.

While drug use has been shown to impair cardiac autonomic regulation, exercise might overcome some of the damage. Herein, we describe how individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) have their heart rate variability (HRV) and drug-related behaviors negatively affected in response to a stressor. However, we show how cardiorespiratory fitness may attenuate those impairments in autonomic control. Fifteen individuals with SUD were matched with 15 non-SUD individuals by age, weight, height, and fitness level, and had their HRV responses under stress induced by the Cold Pressor Test (CPT). The SUD group had lower mean of R-R intervals before and after the CPT when compared with the non-SUD group. In addition, in individuals with SUD, higher cardiorespiratory fitness level predicted greater vagal activity before, during, and after CPT. Moreover, for individuals with SUD, days of abstinence predicted greater mean of R-R intervals during recovery from the CPT. Finally, years of drug use negatively predicted mean of R-R intervals during recovery. Thus, our results suggest that chronic drug use impairs cardiac autonomic regulation at rest and after a physical stress. However, cardiorespiratory fitness might attenuate these impairments by increasing vagal autonomic activity.

Cognitive Deficit in Heart Failure and the Benefits of Aerobic Physical Activity.

Heart Failure is a clinical syndrome prevalent throughout the world and a major contribution to mortality of cardiac patients in Brazil. In addition, this pathology is strongly related to cerebral dysfunction, with a high prevalence of cognitive impairment. Many mechanisms may be related to cognitive loss, such as cerebral hypoperfusion, atrophy and loss of gray matter of the brain, and dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. The literature is clear regarding the benefits of aerobic physical activity in healthy populations in the modulation of the autonomic nervous system and in brain functions. Studies have shown that in the population of patients with heart failure, exercise is associated with an improvement in cognitive function, as well as in cardiac autonomic regulation. However, little emphasis has been given to the mechanisms by which aerobic physical activity can benefit brain functioning, the autonomic nervous system and result in better cognitive performance, particularly in patients with heart failure. Therefore, the present work presents the ways in which brain areas responsible for cognition also act in the modulation of the autonomic nervous system, and emphasizes its importance for the understanding of cognitive impairment in relation to the pathophysiology of heart failure. It is also described the way in which aerobic physical activity can promote benefits when it is integrated into the therapy, associated to a better prognosis of the clinical picture of these patients.

Características psicométricas da versão brasileira do Sport Emotion Questionnaire (SEQ-BR) / Características psicométricas de la versión brasileña del Sport Emotion Questionnaire (SEQ-BR) / Psychometric characteristics of the Brazilian version of the Sport Emotion Questionnaire (SEQ-BR)

En este trabajo presentamos una versión traducida y adaptada del Sport Emotion Questionnaire (SEQ) en portugués brasileño, además de explorar sus características psicométricas. En el Estudio 1 se elaboró la versión brasileña del SEQ (SEQ-BR) de acuerdo con las directrices del proceso de adaptación transcultural, se evaluó la validez de contenido y el acuerdo entre evaluadores. La concordancia entre los evaluadores fue casi excelente (0.77 £ Kappa £ 0.89) y el instrumento se consideró válido desde el punto de vista de su contenido en cuanto a claridad (CVCt = 0.91) y pertinencia (CVCt = 0.93). En el Estudio 2, 895 atletas brasileños de diferentes deportes respondieron al SEQ-BR durante competiciones nacionales e internacionales. Se realizaron análisis factoriales para explorar y confirmar la estructura factorial del SEQ-BR. La estructura con cinco factores presentó un ajuste satisfactorio [χ2 (199) = 395.59; χ2/gl = 1.99; CFI = 0.98; TLI = 0.98; GFI = 0.98; RMSEA = 0.033], además de invarianza factorial entre grupos y consistencia interna adecuada en todos los factores (0.78 £ ω £ 0.85). Teniendo en cuenta lo anterior, el SEQ-BR presenta adecuación en cuanto a la validación del contenido y características psicométricas satisfactorias, proporcionando un instrumento estable, consistente y fiable para medir las emociones precompetitivas en atletas brasileños. (AU)

Neste trabalho apresentamos uma versão traduzida e adaptada doSport Emotion Questionnaire(SEQ) para o Português brasileiro, e exploramossuas características psicométricas. No Estudo 1 foi produzida a versão brasileira do SEQ (SEQ-BR)de acordo com as diretrizes para o processo de adaptação transcultural, eavaliadas a validade de conteúdo e a concordância entre os juízes. O julgamento quanto a concordância entre os juízes foi quase excelente (0.77£Kappa£0.89) e o instrumento foi considerado válido do ponto de vista do seu conteúdo quanto a clareza (CVCt= 0.91) e pertinência (CVCt= 0.93). No Estudo 2, 895 atletas brasileiros de diferentes modalidades esportivas responderam o SEQ-BR durante competições nacionais e internacionais. As análises fatoriais foram realizadas para explorar e confirmar a estrutura fatorial do SEQ-BR. Aestrutura com cinco fatores apresentou um ajuste satisfatório [χ2(199) = 395.59; χ2/gl = 1.99; CFI = 0.98;TLI = 0.98;GFI = 0.98;RMSEA = 0.033], além de invariância fatorial entre grupos e consistência interna adequada em todos os fatores (0.78£ω£0.85). Diante do exposto, o SEQ-BR apresenta adequação quanto à validação do conteúdo e características psicométricas satisfatórias, fornecendo um instrumento estável, consistente e confiável para mensurar emoções pré-competitivas em atletas brasileiros. (AU)

Here we present an adapted version oftheSport Emotion Questionnaire (SEQ)translated to Brazilian Portuguese, and exploreits psychometric characteristics. In Study 1, the Brazilian version of the SEQ (SEQ-BR) was produced according to the guidelines for the cross-cultural adaptation process, and the content validity and inter-rater agreement were evaluated. The agreement was almost excellent between judges (0.77£Kappa£0.89),and the instrument was considered valid from thecontent viewpoint, regarding clarity (CVCt= 0.91) and relevance (CVCt= 0.93). In Study 2, 895 Brazilian athletes from different types of sports answered the SEQ-BR during national and international competitions. Factor analysis were performed to exploreand confirm the factor structure of the SEQ-BR.The structure composed offive factors [χ2(199) = 395.59;χ2/df = 1.99; CFI = 0.98;TLI = 0.98;GFI = 0.98;RMSEA = 0.033], in addition to factorial invariance between groups and adequate internal consistency in all factors (0,78£ω£0,85). The SEQ-BR presents adequacy as to content validity,and satisfactory psychometric characteristics, providing a stable, consistent, and reliable instrument tomeasure pre-competitive emotions in Brazilian athletes. (AU)

Improving cerebral oxygenation, cognition and autonomic nervous system control of a chronic alcohol abuser through a three-month running program.

The abusive use of alcohol has shown to be associated to cerebral damage, impaired cognition, poor autonomic nervous control, impaired cardiovascular health, increased levels of stress and anxiety, depression symptoms and poor quality of life. Aerobic exercise has shown to be an efficient tool to reduce and overcome these issues. In this case report, a patient (forty-four years old, male) under treatment in public psychiatric hospital, classified as having a substance use disorder, underwent a three-month running program. The maximal oxygen consumption increased from 24.2 ml/kg/min to 30.1 ml/kg/min, running time increased from 6 min to 45 min (650%) and distance covered from 765 m to 8700 m (1037.2%). In prefrontal cortex oxygenation, oxyhemoglobin levels improved by 76.1%, deoxyhemoglobin decreased 96.9% and total hemoglobin increased 78.8% during exercise. Reaction time in the cognitive test during rest decreased 23%, and the number of correct answers increased by 266.6%. Parasympathetic cardiac parameters increased in several heart rate variability indices. Thus, we conclude that running exercise performed by an alcoholic patient hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital improves cerebral function, cognition and cardiovascular health.

Affect during incremental exercise: The role of inhibitory cognition, autonomic cardiac function, and cerebral oxygenation.

BACKGROUND: Pleasure is a key factor for physical activity behavior in sedentary individuals. Inhibitory cognitive control may play an important role in pleasure perception while exercising, especially at high intensities. In addition, separate work suggests that autonomic regulation and cerebral hemodynamics influence the affective and cognitive responses during exercise. PURPOSE: We investigated the effects of exercise intensity on affect, inhibitory control, cardiac autonomic function, and prefrontal cortex (PFC) oxygenation. METHODS: Thirty-seven sedentary young adults performed two experimental conditions (exercise and control) in separate sessions in a repeated-measures design. In the exercise condition, participants performed a maximum graded exercise test on a cycle ergometer as we continuously measured oxygen consumption, heart rate variability (HRV), and PFC oxygenation. At each of 8 intensity levels we also measured inhibitory control (Stroop test), associative and dissociative thoughts (ADT), and affective/pleasure ratings. In the control condition, participants sat motionless on a cycle ergometer without active pedaling, and we collected the same measures at the same points in time as the exercise condition. We evaluated the main effects and interactions of exercise condition and intensity level for each measure using two-way repeated measures ANOVAs. Additionally, we evaluated the relationship between affect and inhibitory control, ADT, HRV, and PFC oxygenation using Pearson's correlation coefficients. RESULTS: For exercise intensities below and at the ventilatory threshold (VT), participants reported feeling neutral, with preservation of inhibitory control, while intensities above the VT were associated with displeasure (p<0.001), decreased inhibitory control and HRV (p<0.001), and increased PFC oxygenation (p<0.001). At the highest exercise intensity, pleasure was correlated with the low-frequency index of HRV (r = -0.34; p<0.05) and the low-frequency/high-frequency HRV ratio (r = -0.33; p<0.05). PFC deoxyhemoglobin was correlated with pleasure two stages above the VT (r = -0.37; p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results support the notion that exercise at high intensities influences inhibitory control and one's perception of pleasure, which are linked to changes in cardiac autonomic control and cerebral hemodynamics. These findings strengthen the existence of an integrated brain-heart-body system and highlight the importance of exercise intensity in exercise-related behavior in sedentary individuals.

Brincando e aprendendo: aprimorando o desempenho escolar e comportamento de crianças através de aulas de reforço de educação física escolar integradas ao conteúdo escolar / Playing and learning: improving the scholar achievement and children´s behavior through physical education classes integrating basic school contents

A motricidade e a ludicidade são elementos essenciais no desenvolvimento integral de crianças. Este estudo investigou a influência de aulas lúdicas de educação física integradas ao conteúdo escolar sobre o desempenho escolar e a percepção (relato) dos pais e professoras sobre o comportamento de crianças. Durante três meses, crianças com baixo desempenho escolar receberam aulas de reforço com jogos e brincadeiras integrando o conteudo básico das disciplinas escolares. Foi observado melhora na leitura e no desempenho escolar geral, assim como, pais e professores relataram que as crianças se tornaram mais comunicativas, atentas e prestativas.

It is well know that motricity and ludicity are essential elements to promote whole child development. This study investigated the influence of ludic classes of physical education integrated to school subjects on the school achievement and self reports from parents and teachers from children´s behavior. During three months, children with low academic records received extra classes with fun activities and games integrating the regular school subjects. We have found an improvement in both reading and total academic achievement, as well as children became more communicative and cooperative with higher attention.