What Type Of Exercise Is Appropriate For An Optimistic Affective Mind-set?

Abstract

PURPOSE: “Affective mind-set” is a mental frame or lens that selectively organizes. Previous reports proved that activation of the left anterior brain region is linked with the optimistic affective mind-set. Aerobic exercise such as moderate-intensity interval training (MIT) and moderate continuous training (MCT) activates the frontal area of the left hemisphere, which gives euphoric feelings. However, whether interval training is appropriate for stimulating an optimistic affective mind-set is unknown. We hypothesized that interval, rather than continuous, training activates the left brain. This study aimed to evaluate which exercise can activate the left brain more by using three different kinds of bicycle exercise. METHODS: The participants were six healthy male volunteers. The three bicycle exercises used were MCT, MIT, and high-intensity interval training (HIT). Exercise intensity was considered in the assessment of the peak heart rate (PHR) induced by the cardiopulmonary exercise test. A 70% PHR was defined as moderate intensity; and 90% PHR, as high intensity. The MCT protocol included 3 min of warm-up (WU) and 40 min of moderate-intensity (70% PHR) continuous exercise, 3 min of cooldown (CD), and 10 min of rest. The MIT protocol was composed of a 3-minute WU, 4 term of moderate-intensity (70% PHR) exercise, active rest (45% PHR), 5-min CD, and 10-min rest. The HIT protocol was composed of a 3-min WU, 4 term of high-intensity (90% PHR) exercise with active rest (70% PHR), 3-min CD, and 10-min rest. Brain activity was measured using electroencephalography (EEG; NegPos, Neuro Sky). EEG was performed during each session. Data were the mean values obtained at WU, CD, and 5-min rest. ⊿CD-WU and ⊿Rest 5-min WU were calculated. The three groups were compared via one-way analysis of variance, with the Bonferroni test for post hoc comparison. RESULTS: A slight difference was observed among the three groups in ⊿Rest 5-min WU (MIT: 42.0±42.6, HIT: −19.5±48.6, MCT:-3.8±14.8, p<0.057). ⊿CD-WU was not significantly different among the groups (MCT: −2.7±15.8, MIT: 39.1±43.7, HIT: −16.2±51.1, p<0.11). WU and CD showed no significance differences among the three groups (WU: p<0.25, CD: p<0.51). CONCLUSION: MIT is the most appropriate exercise for an optimistic affective mind-set. I have no financial relationships to disclose.