Wanner P, Müller T, Pfeifer K, Steib S (2019)
Publication Language: English
Publication Type: Conference contribution
Publication year: 2019
Pages Range: 623 - 624
Conference Proceedings Title: Abstract Book ISPGR WORLD CONGRESS 2019
Event location: Edinburgh, Scotland
BACKGROUND AND AIM:
Recent evidence suggests that single bouts of cardiovascular exercise performed in close proximity to motor practice can enhance skill acquisition (online learning) and consolidation (offline learning) [1]. High-intensity bouts have been suggested to be particularly effective in improving consolidation, whereas moderate-intensity bouts may enhance skill acquisition. However, this suggested dose-response relationship has not been investigated systematically. Furthermore, first studies indicate that these positive effects may not apply for motor skills requiring the control of multiple effectors, such as balancing tasks. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cardiovascular exercise i) carried out immediately prior to motor practice, and ii) performed at different exercise intensities on learning a novel balancing task.
METHODS:
49 healthy young adults (age: 25.41±2.86; BMI: 23.09±2.36) were randomized into one of three groups performing either 1) high-intensity interval exercise at 90%/60% Wmax (EX-H; n=15), 2) moderate-intensity interval exercise at 45%/25% Wmax (EX-M; n=17), or 3) continuous minimal-intense exercise at 25 W (CON; n=17) for a total of 17 minutes immediately prior to practicing a motor skill. The motor task required participants to stand on a tiltable (25°) platform (stabilometer), and to balance it in a horizontal position for 30 seconds. For each experimental condition, subjects performed 15 trials (5 blocks of 3 trials), followed by a retention test (1 block of 3 trials) 24 hours later. Time in balance (platform within ±5° from horizontal) was calculated for each trial and within-and between-group differences in online learning (skill improvement from baseline to last acquisition trial) and offline learning (performance change from last acquisition to retention block) analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA.
RESULTS:
Significant online learning effects were observed in all participants (F8.7,398.9 = 26.6; p < .001) with no differences between experimental conditions (F2,46 = 0.3; p = .733) (Figure 1, A). Similarly, there were no differences in offline learning gains between groups (F2,46 = 1.115; p = .337) (Figure 1, B).
CONCLUSION:
Motor skill acquisition as well as consolidation was not improved by an acute bout of exercise, irrespective of intensity. The present findings do not confirm the positive effects of high-intensity cardiovascular exercise on motor learning, when exercise is performed immediately prior to skill practice. Balancing tasks require the control of multiple effectors as well as the integration and coordination of extensive perceptual information in the prefrontal cortex [2]. Besides the promoting effects of an acute exercise on neuroplasticity, highly elevated catecholamine due to a cardiovascular exercise bout has shown to have negative effects on the prefrontal cortex function and thus may explain the lack of beneficial effects on learning a balancing task [2].
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND FUNDING:
None.
REFERENCES:
[1] Roig et al. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 44 (2), p. 81-88 (2016). [2] McMorris et al. Physiol Behav 141, p. 180-189 (2015).
APA:
Wanner, P., Müller, T., Pfeifer, K., & Steib, S. (2019). Effects of a single bout of cardiovascular exercise on balance learning: A comparison of different exercise intensities. In Abstract Book ISPGR WORLD CONGRESS 2019 (pp. 623 - 624). Edinburgh, Scotland.
MLA:
Wanner, Philipp, et al. "Effects of a single bout of cardiovascular exercise on balance learning: A comparison of different exercise intensities." Proceedings of the ISPGR WORLD CONGRESS 2019, Edinburgh, Scotland 2019. 623 - 624.
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