Increased cerebral blood flow supports a single-bout postexercise benefit to executive function: evidence from hypercapnia
Benjamin Tari, James J. Vanhie, Glen R. Belfry, J. Kevin Shoemaker, Matthew Heath
Abstract
Single-bout aerobic exercise "boosts" executive function, and increased cerebral blood flow (CBF) has been proposed as a mechanism for the benefit. In this study, participants completed 10 min of aerobic exercise and 10 min of inhaling a hypercapnic gas, a manipulation known to increase CBF independently of metabolic demands. Both exercise and hypercapnic conditions improved executive function for at least 20 min. Accordingly, an increase in CBF is a candidate mechanism for the postexercise improvement in executive function.
Topics & Concepts
HypercapniaCerebral blood flowAerobic exerciseMechanism (biology)Physical medicine and rehabilitationBlood flowMedicineAnesthesiaCardiologyPsychologyPhysical therapyAcidosisEpistemologyPhilosophyHeart Rate Variability and Autonomic ControlCardiovascular Syncope and Autonomic DisordersNeural and Behavioral Psychology Studies