Enhancing effect of cerebral blood volume by mild exercise in healthy young men: A near-infrared spectroscopy study

College

College of Science

Department/Unit

Biology

Document Type

Article

Source Title

Neuroscience Research

Volume

61

Issue

3

First Page

242

Last Page

248

Publication Date

7-2008

Abstract

A mechanism by which exercise improves brain function may be attributed to increase in cerebral blood volume (CBV) with physical activity. However, the exact exercise intensity that influences CBV is still uncertain. To clarify this issue, 10 healthy young male participants were asked to perform a graded cycling exercise to the point of exhaustion while their prefrontal cortex CBVs are being monitored using near-infrared spectroscopy. Overall responsive cerebral oxygenation showed a non-linear pattern with three distinct phases. The CBV-threshold (CBVT), an event where rapid oxygenation takes place, occurred at approximately 42% of the V˙O2max. The CBVT preceded the lactate threshold (LT), which was at approximately 55% of the V˙O2max. The V˙O2max was not predictive of the CBVT in among the subjects. Our results indicate that oxygenation of the prefrontal cortex increases during graded cycling even at exercise intensities below the LT, suggesting the potential role of mild exercise in enhancing CBV.

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Disciplines

Neuroscience and Neurobiology

Keywords

Cerebral circulation; Near infrared spectroscopy; Cycling; Prefrontal cortex

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