Abstract
Previous studies have consistently reported a positive effect of acute exercise on cognition, particularly on executive function. However, most studies have focused on aerobic and resistant forms of exercise. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of ‘open-skill’ with ‘closed-skill’ exercise (defined in terms of the predictability of the performing environment) on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) production and task switching performance. Twenty young adult males participated in both closed (running) and open (badminton) skill exercise sessions in a counterbalanced order on separate days. The exercise sessions consisted of 5 min of warm up exercises followed by 30 min of running or badminton. The exercise intensity was set at 60% (±5%) of the heart rate reserve level (HRR) with HR being monitored by a wireless heart rate monitor. Blood samples were taken and participation in a task-switching paradigm occurred before and after each exercise session. Results showed no differences in serum BDNF or task-switching performance at the pre-test stage, however, badminton exercise resulted in significantly higher serum BDNF levels (a proxy for levels of BDNF in the brain) and near significant smaller global switching costs relative to running. This study has provided preliminary evidence in support the relative benefits of open-skills exercises on BDNF and executive function.
Highlights
Emerging evidence has suggested that exercise may facilitate cognitive performance [1,2]
In the case of aerobic exercise, the most common exercise mode used in this line of research, it has been shown that 30 min of moderate-vigorous aerobic exercise improves cognitive performance in older adults [3,4], middle-aged adults [5,6], young adults [6,7,8], children [9], and children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder [10,11]
Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels are only a proxy for the levels of BDNF in the brain, our study showed that serum BDNF is sensitive to the effect of exercise mode and 30 min of open-skills exercise stimulate relatively more BDNF production
Summary
Emerging evidence has suggested that exercise may facilitate cognitive performance [1,2]. There is a growing body of research which looks at how a single bout of exercise affects cognitive performance. In the case of aerobic exercise, the most common exercise mode used in this line of research, it has been shown that 30 min of moderate-vigorous aerobic exercise improves cognitive performance in older adults [3,4], middle-aged adults [5,6], young adults [6,7,8], children [9], and children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder [10,11]. Acute resistance exercise has been shown to be beneficial to cognitive performance [5,12,13]. The type of exercise may be an important factor determining the effects of acute exercise on cognitive performance. Pontifex et al [14] compared the effect of acute aerobic versus resistance exercise on executive control of working memory, and found that the aerobic exercise-induced changes were more strongly related to executive control
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