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Exhaustive Exercise Alters Thinking Times in a Tower of London Task in a Time-Dependent Manner.

ABSTRACT: Purpose: In contrast to other aspects of executive functions, acute exercise-induced alterations in planning are poorly investigated. While only few studies report improved planning performances after exercise, even less is known about their time course after exhaustive exercise. Methods: One hundred and nineteen healthy adults performed the Tower of London (ToL) task at baseline, followed by a graded exercise test (GXT). Participants were subsequently randomized into one of four groups (immediately, 30, 60, and 90 min after the GXT) to repeat the ToL. Main outcomes of the ToL were planning (number of tasks completed in the minimum number of moves), solutions (correct responses independent of the given number of moves) as well as thinking times (time between presentation of each problem and first action) for tasks with varying difficulty (four-, five,- and six-move problems). Blood lactate levels were analyzed as a potential mediator. Results: No effect of exercise on planning could be detected. In contrast to complex problem conditions, median thinking times deteriorated significantly in the immediately after GXT tested group in less challenging problem conditions (four-move problems: p = 0.001, F = 5.933, df = 3; five-move problems: p = 0.005, F = 4.548, df = 3). Decreased lactate elimination rates were associated with impaired median thinking times across all groups ?MTT4-6 (p = 0.001, r = -0.309), ?MTT4 (p < 0.001, r = -0.367), and ?MTT5 (p = 0.001, r = -0.290). Conclusion: These results suggest that planning does not improve within 90 min after exhaustive exercise. In line with previous research, revealing a negative impact of exhaustive exercise on memory and attention, our study extends this knowledge of exercise-induced alterations in cognitive functioning as thinking times as subcomponents of planning are negatively affected immediately after exercise. This is further associated with peripheral lactate levels.

SUBMITTER: Zimmer P

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5226945 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Exhaustive Exercise Alters Thinking Times in a Tower of London Task in a Time-Dependent Manner.

Zimmer Philipp P Binnebößel Stephan S Bloch Wilhelm W Hübner Sven T ST Schenk Alexander A Predel Hans-Georg HG Wright Peter P Stritt Christian C Oberste Max M

Frontiers in physiology 20170112

<b>Purpose:</b> In contrast to other aspects of executive functions, acute exercise-induced alterations in planning are poorly investigated. While only few studies report improved planning performances after exercise, even less is known about their time course after exhaustive exercise. <b>Methods:</b> One hundred and nineteen healthy adults performed the Tower of London (ToL) task at baseline, followed by a graded exercise test (GXT). Participants were subsequently randomized into one of four g ...[more]

PMID: 28127289

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Project description:The adult, mature central nervous system (CNS) has limited plasticity. Physical exercising can counteract this limitation by inducing plasticity and fostering processes such as learning, memory consolidation and formation. Little is known about the molecular factors that govern these mechanisms, and how they are connected with exercise. In this study, we used immunohistochemical and behavioral analyses to investigate how running wheel exercise affects expression of the neuronal plasticity-inhibiting protein Nogo-A in the rat cortex, and how it influences motor learning in vivo. Following one week of exercise, rats exhibited a decrease in Nogo-A levels, selectively in motor cortex layer 2/3, but not in layer 5. Nogo-A protein levels returned to baseline after two weeks of running wheel exercise. In a skilled motor task (forelimb-reaching), administration of Nogo-A function-blocking antibodies over the course of the first training week led to improved motor learning. By contrast, Nogo-A antibody application over two weeks of training resulted in impaired learning. Our findings imply a bimodal, time-dependent function of Nogo-A in exercise-induced neuronal plasticity: While an activity-induced suppression of the plasticity-inhibiting protein Nogo-A appears initially beneficial for enhanced motor learning, presumably by allowing greater plasticity in establishing novel synaptic connections, this process is not sustained throughout continued exercise. Instead, upregulation of Nogo-A over the course of the second week of running wheel exercise in rats implies that Nogo-A is required for consolidation of acquired motor skills during the delayed memory consolidation process, possibly by inhibiting ongoing neuronal morphological reorganization to stabilize established synaptic pathways. Our findings suggest that Nogo-A downregulation allows leaning to occur, i.e. opens a 'learning window', while its later upregulation stabilizes the learnt engrams. These findings underline the importance of appropriately timing of application of Nogo-A antibodies in future clinical trials that aim to foster memory performance while avoiding adverse effects.

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Exhaustive Exercise Alters Thinking Times in a Tower of London Task in a Time-Dependent Manner.

Publications

Exhaustive Exercise Alters Thinking Times in a Tower of London Task in a Time-Dependent Manner.

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