Effects of Acute Aerobic Exercise and Task Repetition on the Neural Correlates of Executive Function in Young and Older Adults: A Crossover fMRI Study.
Ryota Asahara, Marina Fukuie, Daisuke Hoshi et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized crossover study investigated the effects of acute aerobic exercise on brain activity during task switching in 17 young and 19 older adults. Results indicated that older adults had greater task-related BOLD activation in specific brain regions compared to younger adults, despite slightly lower performance (p ≤ 0.002). Acute exercise preserved regional brain activation without measurable behavioral benefits.
Key findings
- Older adults showed significantly greater BOLD activation in several brain regions compared to young adults (p ≤ 0.002).
- Task repetition reduced activation in the left middle occipital and middle frontal gyri and right cerebellar cortex in both age groups.
- Reaction time improved significantly in older adults following task repetition.
- Activation in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex decreased in young adults after walking, but remained stable in older adults.
Why it matters
Understanding how acute aerobic exercise influences brain function can inform strategies to support cognitive health across different age groups. This study highlights the potential for exercise to maintain neural activation during cognitive tasks.