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Brain Sciences
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Physical Exercise-Driven Brain Plasticity
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Physical Exercise-Driven Brain Plasticity

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Sensory and Motor Neuroscience".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 March 2023) | Viewed by 27454

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Gaoxia Wei

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CAS Key Lab of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing 100101, China
Interests: human exercise behavior; brain health
Dr. Tao Huang

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
Department of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Interests: cognitive neuroscience; executive function; memory; mental health; sleep; physical activity; sedentary behavior; fNIRS
Prof. Dr. Weina Liu

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
Interests: molecular psychiatry; biological psychology; exercise psychology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recently, the theory of embodied cognition, which proposes cognitive processes are based on neural and behavioral systems of action, perception, and emotion, has attracted a great deal of attention. Physical exercise is a typical behavior which could help to connect the human body, mind, and brain. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that physical exercise could reshape our brain structure and function, and these alterations are also closely associated with changes in cognitive function and emotional state. However, the characteristics of morphometric and functional plasticity in human brain after different exercise modes, intensity, and frequency remain largely unknown.

For this Research Topic, we welcome submissions from authors working in different research areas, focusing on physical-activity-induced brain imaging studies to advance the knowledge and practical implications of the effect of physical exercise on brain health. Both original research and review articles are welcome.

Some potential themes of interest for this Research Topic include (but are not limited to):

  • The effect of different types of training interventions (e.g., physical exercise, the structured curriculum of physical education, and sports activity) on morphometry and functional plasticity of the brain and health among general populations.
  • Exploring the effect of treating mental disorders or somatic illness with physical exercise on cortical organization and resting-state function in clinical populations.
  • Individual differences in moderating the effect of physical exercise on brain plasticity, such as gender differences, the differences between young and old adults, trait factors including fitness level, stress level, anxious level, etc.
  • The neurological and physiological mechanisms underlying fitness-related intervention on cognitive functions and emotional health.
  • Experimental studies utilizing functional MRI, MRI, EEG, ERP, or FNIRS to demonstrate the association between physical exercise and the human brain.

Dr. Gaoxia Wei
Dr. Tao Huang
Prof. Dr. Weina Liu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Brain Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • physical activity
  • brain plasticity
  • exercise mode
  • health

Published Papers (15 papers)

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21 pages, 1989 KiB  
Article
Functional and Structural Properties of Interhemispheric Interaction between Bilateral Precentral Hand Motor Regions in a Top Wheelchair Racing Paralympian
by Tomoyo Morita, Hiromasa Takemura and Eiichi Naito
Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 715; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050715 - 25 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1156
Abstract
Long-term motor training can cause functional and structural changes in the human brain. Assessing how the training of specific movements affects specific parts of the neural circuitry is essential to understand better the underlying mechanisms of motor training-induced plasticity in the human brain. [...] Read more.
Long-term motor training can cause functional and structural changes in the human brain. Assessing how the training of specific movements affects specific parts of the neural circuitry is essential to understand better the underlying mechanisms of motor training-induced plasticity in the human brain. We report a single-case neuroimaging study that investigated functional and structural properties in a professional athlete of wheelchair racing. As wheelchair racing requires bilateral synchronization of upper limb movements, we hypothesized that functional and structural properties of interhemispheric interactions in the central motor system might differ between the professional athlete and controls. Functional and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI and dMRI) data were obtained from a top Paralympian (P1) in wheelchair racing. With 23 years of wheelchair racing training starting at age eight, she holds an exceptional competitive record. Furthermore, fMRI and dMRI data were collected from three other paraplegic participants (P2-P4) with long-term wheelchair sports training other than wheelchair racing and 37 able-bodied control volunteers. Based on the fMRI data analyses, P1 showed activation in the bilateral precentral hand sections and greater functional connectivity between these sections during a right-hand unimanual task. In contrast, other paraplegic participants and controls showed activation in the contralateral hemisphere and deactivation in the ipsilateral hemisphere. Moreover, dMRI data analysis revealed that P1 exhibited significantly lower mean diffusivity along the transcallosal pathway connecting the bilateral precentral motor regions than control participants, which was not observed in the other paraplegic participants. These results suggest that long-term training with bilaterally synchronized upper-limb movements may promote bilateral recruitment of the precentral hand sections. Such recruitment may affect the structural circuitry involved in the interhemispheric interaction between the bilateral precentral regions. This study provides valuable evidence of the extreme adaptability of the human brain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Exercise-Driven Brain Plasticity)
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12 pages, 4147 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Integrity of White Matter Microstructure in Mind–Body Practitioners: A Whole-Brain Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study
by Yingrong Xie, Kelong Cai, Jingang Dai and Gaoxia Wei
Brain Sci. 2023, 13(4), 691; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13040691 - 20 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1389
Abstract
Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) is an increasingly popular multimodal mind–body practice with potential cognitive benefits, yet the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these effects, particularly in relation to brain white matter (WM) microstructure, remain largely unknown. In this study, we used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) [...] Read more.
Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) is an increasingly popular multimodal mind–body practice with potential cognitive benefits, yet the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these effects, particularly in relation to brain white matter (WM) microstructure, remain largely unknown. In this study, we used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and the attention network test (ANT) to compare 22 TCC practitioners and 18 healthy controls. We found extensive differences in fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) between the two groups. Specifically, TCC practitioners had significantly different diffusion metrics in the corticospinal tract (CST), fornix (FX)/stria terminalis (ST), and cerebral peduncle (CP). We also observed a significant correlation between increased FA values in the right CP and ANT performance in TCC practitioners. Our findings suggest that optimized regional WM microstructure may contribute to the complex information processing associated with TCC practice, providing insights for preventing cognitive decline and treating neurological disorders with cognitive impairment in clinical rehabilitation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Exercise-Driven Brain Plasticity)
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16 pages, 2538 KiB  
Article
Moderate-Intensity Intermittent Training Alters the DNA Methylation Pattern of PDE4D Gene in Hippocampus to Improve the Ability of Spatial Learning and Memory in Aging Rats Reduced by D-Galactose
by Jinmei Zhang, Qiaojing Gao, Jun Gao, Liting Lv, Renfan Liu, Yi Wu, Xue Li, Yu Jin and Lu Wang
Brain Sci. 2023, 13(3), 422; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13030422 - 28 Feb 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1606
Abstract
(1) Background: Aging is the main risk factor for most neurodegenerative diseases, and the inhibition of Phosphodiesterase 4(PDE4) is considered a potential target for the treatment of neurological diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of moderate-intensity intermittent [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Aging is the main risk factor for most neurodegenerative diseases, and the inhibition of Phosphodiesterase 4(PDE4) is considered a potential target for the treatment of neurological diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of moderate-intensity intermittent training (MIIT) on PDE4 in the hippocampus of rats with D-galactose (D-gal)-induced cognitive impairment, and the possible mechanism of improving spatial learning and memory. (2) Methods: the aging rats were treated with D-Gal (150 mg/kg/day, for 6 weeks). The aging rats were treated with MIIT for exercise intervention (45 min/day, 5 days/week, for 8 weeks). The Morris water maze test was performed before and after MIIT to evaluate the spatial learning and memory ability, then to observe the synaptic ultrastructure of the hippocampus CA1 region, to detect the expression of synaptic-related protein synaptophysin (SYP) and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95), and to detect the expression of PDE4 subtypes, cAMP, and its signal pathway protein kinase A (PKA)/cAMP response element binding protein (CREB)/brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and the PDE4 methylation level. (3) Results: we found that MIIT for 8 weeks alleviated the decline in spatial learning and memory ability, and improved the synaptic structure of the hippocampus and the expression of synaptic protein SYP and PSD95 in D-Gal aging rats. To elucidate the mechanism of MIIT, we analyzed the expression of PDE4 isoforms PDE4A/PDE4B/PDE4D, cAMP, and the signaling pathway PKA/CREB/BDNF, which play an important role in memory consolidation and maintenance. The results showed that 8 weeks of MIIT significantly up-regulated cAMP, PKA, p-CREB, and BDNF protein expression, and down-regulated PDE4D mRNA and protein expression. Methylation analysis of the PDE4D gene showed that several CG sites in the promoter and exon1 regions were significantly up-regulated. (4) Conclusions: MIIT can improve the synaptic structure of the hippocampus CA1 area and improve the spatial learning and memory ability of aging rats, which may be related to the specific regulation of the PDE4D gene methylation level and inhibition of PDE4D expression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Exercise-Driven Brain Plasticity)
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13 pages, 1261 KiB  
Article
Relationship between Overweight/Obesity and Social Communication in Autism Spectrum Disorder Children: Mediating Effect of Gray Matter Volume
by Wei Cheng, Zhiyuan Sun, Kelong Cai, Jingjing Wu, Xiaoxiao Dong, Zhimei Liu, Yifan Shi, Sixin Yang, Weike Zhang and Aiguo Chen
Brain Sci. 2023, 13(2), 180; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13020180 - 21 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1779
Abstract
With advances in medical diagnostic technology, the healthy development of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is receiving more and more attention. In this article, the mediating effect of brain gray matter volume (GMV) between overweight/obesity and social communication (SC) was investigated through [...] Read more.
With advances in medical diagnostic technology, the healthy development of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is receiving more and more attention. In this article, the mediating effect of brain gray matter volume (GMV) between overweight/obesity and social communication (SC) was investigated through the analysis of the relationship between overweight/obesity and SC in autism spectrum disorder children. In total, 101 children with ASD aged 3–12 years were recruited from three special educational centers (Yangzhou, China). Overweight/obesity in children with ASD was indicated by their body mass index (BMI); the Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2) was used to assess their social interaction ability, and structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (sMRI) was used to measure GMV. A mediation model was constructed using the Process plug-in to analyze the mediating effect of GMV between overweight/obesity and SC in children with ASD. The results revealed that: overweight/obesity positively correlated with SRS-2 total points (p = 0.01); gray matter volume in the left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus (Frontal_Sup_L GMV) negatively correlated with SRS-2 total points (p = 0.001); and overweight/obesity negatively correlated with Frontal_Sup_L GMV (p = 0.001). The Frontal_Sup_L GMV played a partial mediating role in the relationship between overweight/obesity and SC, accounting for 36.6% of total effect values. These findings indicate the significant positive correlation between overweight/obesity and SC; GMV in the left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus plays a mediating role in the relationship between overweight/obesity and SC. The study may provide new evidence toward comprehensively revealing the overweight/obesity and SC relationship. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Exercise-Driven Brain Plasticity)
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14 pages, 1755 KiB  
Article
The Lateralization of Spatial Cognition in Table Tennis Players: Neuroplasticity in the Dominant Hemisphere
by Ziyi Peng, Lin Xu, Haiteng Wang, Tao Song, Yongcong Shao, Qingyuan Liu and Xiechuan Weng
Brain Sci. 2022, 12(12), 1607; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12121607 - 23 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1911
Abstract
Spatial cognition facilitates the successful completion of specific cognitive tasks through lateral processing and neuroplasticity. Long-term training in table tennis induces neural processing efficiency in the visuospatial cognitive processing cortex of athletes. However, the lateralization characteristics and neural mechanisms of visual–spatial cognitive processing [...] Read more.
Spatial cognition facilitates the successful completion of specific cognitive tasks through lateral processing and neuroplasticity. Long-term training in table tennis induces neural processing efficiency in the visuospatial cognitive processing cortex of athletes. However, the lateralization characteristics and neural mechanisms of visual–spatial cognitive processing in table tennis players in non-sport domains are unclear. This study utilized event-related potentials to investigate differences in the spatial cognition abilities of regular college students (controls) and table tennis players. A total of 48 participants (28 controls; 20 s-level national table tennis players) completed spatial cognitive tasks while electroencephalography data were recorded. Task performance was better in the table tennis group than in the control group (reaction time: P < 0.001; correct number/sec: P = 0.043), P3 amplitude was greater in the table tennis group (P = 0.040), spatial cognition showed obvious lateralization characteristics (P < 0.001), table tennis players showed a more obvious right-hemisphere advantage, and the P3 amplitude in the right hemisphere was significantly greater in table tennis athletes than in the control group. (P = 0.044). Our findings demonstrate a right-hemisphere advantage in spatial cognition. Long-term training strengthened the visual–spatial processing ability of table tennis players, and this advantage effect was reflected in the neuroplasticity of the right hemisphere (the dominant hemisphere for spatial processing). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Exercise-Driven Brain Plasticity)
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15 pages, 3526 KiB  
Article
A Characterization of Brain Area Activation in Orienteers with Different Map-Recognition Memory Ability Task Levels—Based on fNIRS Evidence
by Yang Liu, Su Lu, Jingru Liu, Mingsheng Zhao, Yue Chao and Pengyang Kang
Brain Sci. 2022, 12(11), 1561; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12111561 - 17 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1320
Abstract
Background: Mapping memory ability is highly correlated with an orienteer’s level, and spatial memory tasks of different difficulties can reveal the spatial cognitive characteristics of high-level athletes. Methods: An “expert–novice” experimental paradigm was used to monitor behavioral performance and changes in cerebral blood [...] Read more.
Background: Mapping memory ability is highly correlated with an orienteer’s level, and spatial memory tasks of different difficulties can reveal the spatial cognitive characteristics of high-level athletes. Methods: An “expert–novice” experimental paradigm was used to monitor behavioral performance and changes in cerebral blood oxygen concentration in orienteering athletes with tasks of different difficulty and cognitive load using functional near-infrared spectroscopic imaging (fNIRS). Results: (1) there was no difference between high-/low-level athletes’ map recognition and memory abilities in the non-orienteering scenario; (2) with increasing task difficulty, both high-/low-level athletes showed significantly decreasing behavioral performance, reduced correctness, longer reaction time, and strengthened cerebral blood oxygen activation concentration. There was no significant difference in L-DLPFC cerebral oxygen concentration between high-/low-level athletes in the simple map task, and the cerebral oxygen concentration in all brain regions was lower in the expert group than in the novice group in the rest of the task difficulty levels; (3) the correctness rate in the expert group in the complex task was closely related to the activation of the right hemisphere (R-DLPFC, R-VLPFC). Conclusions: Experts have a specific cognitive advantage in map-recognition memory, showing higher task performance and lower cerebral blood oxygen activation; cognitive load constrains map-recognition memory-specific ability and produces different performance effects and brain activation changes on spatial memory processing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Exercise-Driven Brain Plasticity)
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12 pages, 1701 KiB  
Article
Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Markers of Brain Injury in Methamphetamine-Dependent Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Trial
by Zhicheng Zhu, Jisheng Xu, Yu Jin, Lu Wang and Xue Li
Brain Sci. 2022, 12(11), 1521; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12111521 - 10 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1404
Abstract
Objective: Drug dependence has become a major global public health problem. This study aimed to investigate the effects of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on the blood–brain barrier and neurological damage in methamphetamine (MA)-dependent individuals. Methods: MA-dependent individuals (all males) were recruited and randomly divided [...] Read more.
Objective: Drug dependence has become a major global public health problem. This study aimed to investigate the effects of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on the blood–brain barrier and neurological damage in methamphetamine (MA)-dependent individuals. Methods: MA-dependent individuals (all males) were recruited and randomly divided into MA exercise group (MAE) and MA control group (MAC) by using random number table method. The MAE group underwent 12 weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, and the MAC group underwent conventional detoxification. The Neurofilament light chain (NfL), S100 calcium binding protein b (S100b), and Neuron-Specific Enolase (NSE) levels in the blood of MA-dependent individuals were measured before and after the exercise intervention. Results: After the exercise intervention was implemented, the amount of change in NfL in the plasma of the MAE (1.75 ± 1.40) group was significantly different from that of the MAC (0.60 ± 1.21) group (p < 0.01); the amount of change in NSE in the serum of the MAE [−1.51 (−3.99~0.31)] group was significantly different from that of the MAC [0.03 (−1.18~1.16)] group (p < 0.05); and the amount of change in S100b in the serum of the MAE [0.66 (0.40~0.95)] group was not significantly different from that of the MAC (0.60 (0.21~1.04)) group (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that 12 weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise treatment significantly promoted the recovery of blood–brain barrier and neurological damage in MA-dependent patients compared with conventional withdrawal. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Exercise-Driven Brain Plasticity)
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12 pages, 1749 KiB  
Article
Semantic Activation in Badminton Action Processing and Its Modulation by Action Duration: An ERP Study
by Ruohan Chang, Xiaoting Wang and Jinfeng Ding
Brain Sci. 2022, 12(11), 1458; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12111458 - 27 Oct 2022
Viewed by 1199
Abstract
Action processing is crucial for sports activities. Using event-related potentials (ERPs), the present study investigated whether semantics were activated in action processing and, if so, whether semantic activation was modulated by action duration. Badminton athletes were recruited to finish a lexical decision task [...] Read more.
Action processing is crucial for sports activities. Using event-related potentials (ERPs), the present study investigated whether semantics were activated in action processing and, if so, whether semantic activation was modulated by action duration. Badminton athletes were recruited to finish a lexical decision task following an action-semantic priming paradigm, in which short (400 ms) or long (1000 ms) action videos served as primes, and semantically congruent or incongruent action words served as targets. The ERP results showed a P300 effect, that is, larger P300 amplitudes were observed for targets primed by semantically incongruent action videos than for targets primed by semantically congruent action videos, only when the action videos were long and not when the action videos were short. Moreover, a late positive component (LPC) was only sensitive to action duration, showing that the targets primed by long action videos elicited larger LPC amplitudes compared to the targets primed by short action videos. These results suggested that semantics could be activated in action processing and that semantic activation was modulated by action duration, supporting a link between the language system and action processing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Exercise-Driven Brain Plasticity)
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14 pages, 1435 KiB  
Article
Relationship between Physical Activity and Emotional Regulation Strategies in Early Adulthood: Mediating Effects of Cortical Thickness
by Jingjing Wu, Lina Zhu, Xiaoxiao Dong, Zhiyuan Sun, Kelong Cai, Yifan Shi and Aiguo Chen
Brain Sci. 2022, 12(9), 1210; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12091210 - 08 Sep 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2451
Abstract
We investigated the relationship between physical activity (PA) and emotional regulation strategies among college students to establish the mediating role of cortical thickness. A total of 60 university students (18–20 years old) were enrolled in this study. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-L) [...] Read more.
We investigated the relationship between physical activity (PA) and emotional regulation strategies among college students to establish the mediating role of cortical thickness. A total of 60 university students (18–20 years old) were enrolled in this study. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-L) was used to estimate PA levels. Based on the International Physical Activity Working Group standards, PA levels were divided into low, medium, and high PA groups; emotional regulation strategies were determined by the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), including the Cognitive Reappraisal Scale (CR) and the Expressive Suppression Scale (ES). Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure cortical thickness. Differences in use of the ES strategy among high, medium, and low PA groups were not marked. However, compared to the low PA group, the CR strategy was frequently used in the high PA group, with a thicker right hemisphere rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rrACC). PA levels were positively correlated with thickness of the rrACC cortex (r = 0.398, p = 0.002 < 0.05) and CR strategy (r = 0.398, p = 0.002 < 0.05), and negatively correlated with the ES strategy (r = −0.348, p = 0.007 < 0.05). The rrACC cortical thickness played a partial mediating role in the relationship between PA and CR strategy, accounting for 33.1% of total effect values. These findings indicate that although the negative correlation between PA and ES was not significant, the positive correlation between PA with CR was significant, and rrACC thickness played a partial mediating role in the relationship between PA and CR, providing new evidence toward comprehensively revealing the relationship between PA, rrACC cortical thickness, and emotion regulation strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Exercise-Driven Brain Plasticity)
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12 pages, 1964 KiB  
Article
Effect of Tennis Expertise on Motion-in-Depth Perception at Different Speeds: An Event-Related Potential Study
by Congyi Wang, Aohan Yan, Wei Deng and Changzhu Qi
Brain Sci. 2022, 12(9), 1160; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12091160 - 30 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1704
Abstract
Tennis experts need to extract effective visual information from a sphere in high-speed motion, in which motion-in-depth perception plays an important role. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the impact of sphere speed and tennis expertise on motion-in-depth perception by [...] Read more.
Tennis experts need to extract effective visual information from a sphere in high-speed motion, in which motion-in-depth perception plays an important role. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the impact of sphere speed and tennis expertise on motion-in-depth perception by using the expert–novice task paradigm along with event-related potential (ERP) technology. The study also explored differences in behavior and electroencephalogram (EEG) characteristics between tennis experts and novices. Results show that faster sphere movement led to shorter response times and a lower accuracy rate. The P1 component in the occipital–temporal region showed that the expert group activated earlier and were stronger when the sphere was far away. The latent period of P2 in the occipital region was significantly shorter in the expert group in comparison to the novice group. Faster speed led to the induction of increased P300 volatility and a significant increase in latency. The findings of the current study show that the speed of the sphere movement affects the invocation and allocation of cognitive resources in the process of motion-in-depth perception, irrespective of whether the athletes were experts or novices. There is a special effect in the process of motion-in-depth perception for experts, mainly because attention resources are invested earlier in experts rather than novices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Exercise-Driven Brain Plasticity)
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11 pages, 7646 KiB  
Article
Functional Connectivity as an Index of Brain Changes Following a Unicycle Intervention: A Graph-Theoretical Network Analysis
by Uwe Riedmann, Andreas Fink, Bernhard Weber and Karl Koschutnig
Brain Sci. 2022, 12(8), 1092; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12081092 - 17 Aug 2022
Viewed by 1425
Abstract
Grey matter volume reductions in the right superior temporal gyrus (rSTG) were observed in young adults who learned to ride a unicycle. As these decreases were correlated with the acquired ability in unicycling, the authors interpreted the change as a brain tissue reorganization [...] Read more.
Grey matter volume reductions in the right superior temporal gyrus (rSTG) were observed in young adults who learned to ride a unicycle. As these decreases were correlated with the acquired ability in unicycling, the authors interpreted the change as a brain tissue reorganization to increase postural control’s automated and efficient coordination. The current study aims to further corroborate this interpretation by looking at changes in the functional brain network in the very same sample of participants. For this reason, we applied graph theory, a mathematics field used to study network structure functionality. Four global and two local graph-theoretical parameters were calculated to measure whole brain and rSTG specific changes in functional network activity following the three-week-unicycle training. Findings revealed that the Local Efficiency of the rSTG was significantly elevated after the intervention indicating an increase in fault tolerance of the rSTG, possibly reflecting decentralisation of rSTG specific functions to neighbouring nodes. Thus, the increased Local Efficiency may indicate increased task efficiency by decentralising the processing of functions crucial for balance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Exercise-Driven Brain Plasticity)
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23 pages, 3423 KiB  
Article
Research on Top Archer’s EEG Microstates and Source Analysis in Different States
by Feng Gu, Anmin Gong, Yi Qu, Hui Xiao, Jin Wu, Wenya Nan, Changhao Jiang and Yunfa Fu
Brain Sci. 2022, 12(8), 1017; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12081017 - 31 Jul 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1927
Abstract
The electroencephalograph (EEG) microstate is a method used to describe the characteristics of the EEG signal through the brain scalp electrode potential’s spatial distribution; as such, it reflects the changes in the brain’s functional state. The EEGs of 13 elite archers from China’s [...] Read more.
The electroencephalograph (EEG) microstate is a method used to describe the characteristics of the EEG signal through the brain scalp electrode potential’s spatial distribution; as such, it reflects the changes in the brain’s functional state. The EEGs of 13 elite archers from China’s national archery team and 13 expert archers from China’s provincial archery team were recorded under the alpha rhythm during the resting state (with closed eyes) and during archery aiming. By analyzing the differences between the EEG microstate parameters and the correlation between these parameters with archery performance, as well as by combining our findings through standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography source analysis (sLORETA), we explored the changes in the neural activity of professional archers of different levels, under different states. The results of the resting state study demonstrated that the duration, occurrence, and coverage in microstate D of elite archers were significantly higher than those of expert archers and that their other microstates had the greatest probability of transferring to microstate D. During the archery aiming state, the average transition probability of the other microstates transferring to microstate in the left temporal region was the highest observed in the two groups of archers. Moreover, there was a significant negative correlation between the duration and coverage of microstates in the frontal region of elite archers and their archery performance. Our findings indicate that elite archers are more active in the dorsal attention system and demonstrate a higher neural efficiency during the resting state. When aiming, professional archers experience an activation of brain regions associated with archery by suppressing brain regions unrelated to archery tasks. These findings provide a novel theoretical basis for the study of EEG microstate dynamics in archery and related cognitive motor tasks, particularly from the perspective of the subject’s mental state. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Exercise-Driven Brain Plasticity)
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22 pages, 4419 KiB  
Article
Shedding Light on the Effects of Orienteering Exercise on Spatial Memory Performance in College Students of Different Genders: An fNIRS Study
by Shengbin Bao, Jingru Liu and Yang Liu
Brain Sci. 2022, 12(7), 852; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12070852 - 29 Jun 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2107
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the intervention effect of orienteering exercises on the spatial memory ability of college students of different genders and its underlying mechanism. Methods: Forty-eight college students were randomly screened into experimental and control groups, 12 each of male and female, by [...] Read more.
Objective: To investigate the intervention effect of orienteering exercises on the spatial memory ability of college students of different genders and its underlying mechanism. Methods: Forty-eight college students were randomly screened into experimental and control groups, 12 each of male and female, by SBSOD scale. The effects of 12 weeks of orienteering exercises on the behavioral performance and brain activation patterns during the spatial memory tasks of college students of different genders were explored by behavioral tests and the fNIRS technique. Results: After the orienteering exercise intervention in the experimental group, the male students had significantly greater correct rates and significantly lower reaction times than the female students; left and right dorsolateral prefrontal activation was significantly reduced in the experimental group, and the male students had a significantly greater reduction in the left dorsolateral prefrontal than the female students. The degree of activation in the left and right dorsolateral prefrontals of the male students and the right dorsolateral prefrontals of the female students correlated significantly with behavioral performance, and the functional coupling between the brain regions showed an enhanced performance. Discussion: Orienteering exercises improve the spatial memory ability of college students, more significantly in male students. The degree of activation of different brain regions correlated with behavioral performance and showed some gender differences. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Exercise-Driven Brain Plasticity)
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17 pages, 2265 KiB  
Article
Acute Sleep Deprivation Impairs Motor Inhibition in Table Tennis Athletes: An ERP Study
by Lin Xu, Tao Song, Ziyi Peng, Cimin Dai, Letong Wang, Yongcong Shao, Lanxiang Wang, Xiechuan Weng and Mengfei Han
Brain Sci. 2022, 12(6), 746; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12060746 - 07 Jun 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2570
Abstract
Excellent response inhibition is the basis for outstanding competitive athletic performance, and sleep may be an important factor affecting athletes’ response inhibition. This study investigates the effect of sleep deprivation on athletes’ response inhibition, and its differentiating effect on non-athlete controls’ performance, with [...] Read more.
Excellent response inhibition is the basis for outstanding competitive athletic performance, and sleep may be an important factor affecting athletes’ response inhibition. This study investigates the effect of sleep deprivation on athletes’ response inhibition, and its differentiating effect on non-athlete controls’ performance, with the aim of helping athletes effectively improve their response inhibition ability through sleep pattern manipulation. Behavioral and event-related potential (ERP) data were collected from 36 participants (16 table tennis athletes and 20 general college students) after 36 h of sleep deprivation using ERP techniques and a stop-signal task. Sleep deprivation’s different effects on response inhibition in the two groups were explored through repeated-measures ANOVA. Behavioral data showed that in a baseline state, stop-signal response time was significantly faster in table tennis athletes than in non-athlete controls, and appeared significantly longer after sleep deprivation in both groups. ERP results showed that at baseline state, N2, ERN, and P3 amplitudes were lower in table tennis athletes than in non-athlete controls, and corresponding significant decreases were observed in non-athlete controls after 36 h of sleep deprivation. Table tennis athletes showed a decrease in P3 amplitude and no significant difference in N2 and ERN amplitudes, after 36 h of sleep deprivation compared to the baseline state. Compared to non-athlete controls, table tennis athletes had better response inhibition, and the adverse effects of sleep deprivation on response inhibition occurred mainly in the later top-down motor inhibition process rather than in earlier automated conflict detection and monitoring. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Exercise-Driven Brain Plasticity)
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Systematic Review
Relative Neuroadaptive Effect of Resistance Training along the Descending Neuroaxis in Older Adults
by Mattias Romare, Guilherme H. Elcadi, Elin Johansson and Panagiotis Tsaklis
Brain Sci. 2023, 13(4), 679; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13040679 - 18 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1584
Abstract
Age-related decline in voluntary force production represents one of the main contributors to the onset of physical disability in older adults and is argued to stem from adverse musculoskeletal alterations and changes along the descending neuroaxis. The neural contribution of the above is [...] Read more.
Age-related decline in voluntary force production represents one of the main contributors to the onset of physical disability in older adults and is argued to stem from adverse musculoskeletal alterations and changes along the descending neuroaxis. The neural contribution of the above is possibly indicated by disproportionate losses in voluntary activation (VA) compared to muscle mass. For young adults, resistance training (RT) induces muscular and neural adaptations over several levels of the central nervous system, contributing to increased physical performance. However, less is known about the relative neuroadaptive contribution of RT in older adults. The aim of this review was to outline the current state of the literature regarding where and to what extent neural adaptations occur along the descending neuroaxis in response to RT in older adults. We performed a literature search in PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus. A total of 63 articles met the primary inclusion criteria and following quality analysis (PEDro) 23 articles were included. Overall, neuroadaptations in older adults seemingly favor top-down adaptations, where the preceding changes of neural drive from superior levels affect the neural output of lower levels, following RT. Moreover, older adults appear more predisposed to neural rather than morphological adaptations compared to young adults, a potentially important implication for the improved maintenance of neuromuscular function during aging. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Exercise-Driven Brain Plasticity)
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