scholarly journals MAP training: combining meditation and aerobic exercise reduces depression and rumination while enhancing synchronized brain activity

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon Alderman ◽  
Ryan Olson ◽  
C.J. Brush ◽  
Tracey Shors
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Aerobic Exercise ◽  
Physical Map ◽  
Flanker Task ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Adult Brain ◽  
Moderate Intensity

Mental and physical (MAP) training is a novel clinical intervention that combines mental training through meditation and physical training through aerobic exercise. The intervention was translated from neuroscientific studies indicating that MAP training increases neurogenesis in the adult brain. Each session consisted of 30 min of focused-attention (FA) meditation and 30 min of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. Fifty-two participants completed the 8-week intervention, which consisted of two sessions per week. Following the intervention, individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD; n = 22) reported significantly less depressive symptoms and ruminative thoughts. Typical healthy individuals (n = 30) also reported less depressive symptoms at follow-up. Behavioral and event-related potential indices of cognitive control were collected at baseline and follow-up during a modified flanker task. Following MAP training, N2 and P3 component amplitudes increased relative to baseline, especially among individuals with MDD. These data indicate enhanced neural responses during the detection and resolution of conflicting stimuli. Although previous research has supported the individual beneficial effects of aerobic exercise and meditation for depression, these findings indicate that a combination of the two may be particularly effective in increasing cognitive control processes and decreasing ruminative thought patterns.

scholarly journals The impact of exercise intensity on neurophysiological indices of food-related inhibitory control and cognitive control: A randomized crossover event-related potential (ERP) study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce W. Bailey ◽  
Alexandra M. Muir ◽  
Ciera L. Bartholomew ◽  
William F. Christensen ◽  
Kaylie A. Carbine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Exercise Intensity ◽  
Flanker Task ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Moderate Exercise ◽  
Moderate Intensity Exercise ◽  
Vigorous Exercise ◽  
The Impact

AbstractFood-related inhibitory control, the ability to withhold a dominant response towards highly palatable foods, influences dietary decisions. Food-related inhibitory control abilities may increase following a bout of aerobic exercise; however, the impact of exercise intensity on both food-related inhibitory control and broader cognitive control processes is currently unclear. We used a high-powered, within-subjects, crossover design to test how relative intensity of aerobic exercise influenced behavioral (response time, accuracy) and neural (N2 and P3 components of the scalp-recorded event-related potential [ERP]) measures of food-related inhibitory and cognitive control. Two hundred and thirteen participants completed three separate conditions separated by approximately one week in randomized order: two exercise conditions (35% [moderate] or 70% [vigorous] of VO2max) and seated rest. Directly following exercise or rest, participants completed a food-based go/no-go task and a flanker task while electroencephalogram data were recorded. Linear mixed models showed generally faster response times (RT) and improved accuracy following vigorous exercise compared to rest, but not moderate-intensity exercise; RTs and accuracy did not differ between moderate intensity exercise and rest conditions. N2 and P3 amplitudes were larger following vigorous exercise for the food-based go/no-go task compared to rest and moderate intensity exercise. There were no differences between exercise conditions for N2 amplitude during the flanker task; however, P3 amplitude was more positive following vigorous compared to rest, but not moderate exercise. Gender did not moderate exercise outcomes. Results suggest improved and more efficient food- related recruitment of later inhibitory control and cognitive control processes following vigorous exercise.

A randomized trial of aerobic exercise for major depression: examining neural indicators of reward and cognitive control as predictors and treatment targets

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Brush ◽  
Greg Hajcak ◽  
Anthony J. Bocchine ◽  
Andrew A. Ude ◽  
Kristina M. Muniz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Depressive Symptom ◽  
Major Depression ◽  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Aerobic Exercise ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Reward Processing ◽  
Symptom Reduction ◽  
Depressive Symptom Severity ◽  
Pre Treatment

Abstract Background Aerobic exercise has demonstrated antidepressant efficacy among adults with major depression. There is a poor understanding of the neural mechanisms associated with these effects. Deficits in reward processing and cognitive control may be two candidate targets and predictors of treatment outcome to exercise in depression. Methods Sixty-six young adults aged 20.23 years (s.d. = 2.39) with major depression were randomized to 8 weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (n = 35) or light stretching (n = 31). Depressive symptoms were assessed across the intervention to track symptom reduction. Reward processing [reward positivity (RewP)] and cognitive control [error-related negativity (ERN)] were assessed before and after the intervention using event-related brain potentials. Results Compared to stretching, aerobic exercise resulted in greater symptom reduction (gs = 0.66). Aerobic exercise had no impact on the RewP (gav = 0.08) or ERN (gav = 0.21). In the aerobic exercise group, individuals with a larger pre-treatment RewP [odds ratio (OR) = 1.45] and increased baseline depressive symptom severity (OR = 1.18) were more likely to respond to an aerobic exercise program. Pre-treatment ERN did not predict response (OR = 0.74). Conclusions Aerobic exercise is effective in alleviating depressive symptoms in adults with major depression, particularly for those with increased depressive symptom severity and a larger RewP at baseline. Although aerobic exercise did not modify the RewP or ERN, there is preliminary support for the utility of the RewP in predicting who is most likely to respond to exercise as a treatment for depression.

scholarly journals Moderate aerobic exercise, but not anticipation of exercise, improves cognitive control

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. e0242270
Author(s):  
Maximilian Bergelt ◽  
Vanessa Fung Yuan ◽  
Richard O’Brien ◽  
Laura E. Middleton ◽  
Wellington Martins dos Santos
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Aerobic Exercise ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Flanker Task ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Post Exercise ◽  
Linear Mixed Effects ◽  
Mixed Effects Modeling ◽  
Single Bout ◽  
Main Effects

Background Evidence suggests a single bout of exercise can improve cognitive control. However, many studies only include assessments after exercise. It is unclear whether exercise changes as a result, or in anticipation, of exercise. Objective To examine changes in cognitive control due to moderate aerobic exercise, and anticipation of such exercise. Methods Thirty-one young healthy adults (mean age 22 years; 55% women) completed three conditions (randomized order): 1) exercise (participants anticipated and completed exercise); 2) anticipation (participants anticipated exercise but completed rest); and 3) rest (participants anticipated and completed rest). Cognitive control was assessed with a modified Flanker task at three timepoints: (1) early (20 min pre-intervention, pre-reveal in anticipation session); (2) pre-intervention (after reveal); and (3) post-intervention. An accuracy-weighted response time (RTLISAS) was the primary outcome, analyzed with a linear mixed effects modeling approach. Results There was an interaction between condition and time (p = 0.003) and between session and time (p = 0.015). RTLISAS was better post-exercise than post-rest and post-deception, but was similar across conditions at other timepoints. RTLISAS improved across time in session 1 and session 2, but did not improve over time in session 3. There were also main effects of condition (p = 0.024), session (p = 0.005), time (p<0.001), and congruency (p<0.001). Conclusions Cognitive control improved after moderate aerobic exercise, but not in anticipation of exercise. Improvements on a Flanker task were also observed across sessions and time, indicative of a learning effect that should be considered in study design and analyses.

scholarly journals Aerobic Exercise Attenuates Pain Sensitivity: An Event-Related Potential Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kangyong Zheng ◽  
Changcheng Chen ◽  
Suyong Yang ◽  
Xueqiang Wang
Keyword(s):  
Aerobic Exercise ◽  
Tibialis Anterior ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Tibialis Anterior Muscle ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Contact Heat ◽  
Low Intensity ◽  
Inhibitory Function ◽  
Heat Stimulus

In this study, electroencephalography (EEG) was utilized to explore the neurophysiological mechanisms of aerobic exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH) and provide a theoretical basis for the application of aerobic exercise in pain assessment and treatment. Forty-five healthy subjects were randomly divided into moderate-intensity aerobic exercise [70% heart rate reserve (HRR)], low-intensity aerobic exercise (50% HRR), or control groups (sitting). Aerobic exercise was performed with cycling. Pressure pain threshold (PPT), heat pain threshold (HPT), event-related potential (ERP) induced by contact heat stimulus and pain scoring were measured before and after the intervention. We found that moderate-intensity aerobic exercise can increase the PPT (rectus femoris: t = −2.71, p = 0.017; tibialis anterior muscle: t = −2.36, p = 0.033) and HPT (tibialis anterior muscle: t = −2.219, p = 0.044) of proximal intervention sites rather than distal sites, and decreased pain scorings of contact heat stimulus. After moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, alpha oscillation power reflecting the central descending inhibitory function was enhanced (t = −2.31, p &lt; 0.05). Low-intensity aerobic exercise mainly reduced the pain unpleasantness rating (Block 1: t = 2.415, p = 0.030; Block 2: t = 3.287, p = 0.005; Block 4: t = 2.646, p = 0.019; Block 5: t = 2.567, p = 0.022). Aerobic exercise had an overall EIH effect. Its hypoalgesic effect was related to exercise intensity and affected by the site and type of pain stimulus. Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise effectively reduced the sensitivity to various painful stimuli, and low-intensity aerobic exercise selectively inhibited the negative emotional pain response. The hypoalgesic mechanism of aerobic exercise involves the enhancement of the central descending inhibitory function.

scholarly journals Autobiographical memory as a latent vulnerability mechanism following childhood maltreatment: Association with future depression symptoms and prosocial behavior

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Vanessa B. Puetz ◽  
Essi Viding ◽  
Ferdinand Hoffmann ◽  
Mattia I. Gerin ◽  
Molly Sharp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Prosocial Behavior ◽  
Autobiographical Memory ◽  
Social Functioning ◽  
Childhood Maltreatment ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Neural Reactivity ◽  
Cue Words

Abstract Objectives Childhood maltreatment is associated with altered neural reactivity during autobiographical memory (ABM) recall and a pattern of overgeneral memory (OGM). Altered ABM and OGM have been linked with psychopathology and poorer social functioning. The present study investigated the association between altered ABM and subsequent socio-emotional functioning (measured two years later) in a sample of adolescents with (N = 20; maltreatment group, MT) and without (N = 17; non-MT group) documented childhood maltreatment histories. Method At baseline, adolescents (aged 12.6 ± 1.45 years) were administered the Autobiographical Memory Test to measure OGM. Participants also recalled specific ABMs in response to emotionally valenced cue words during functional MRI. Adolescents in both groups underwent assessments measuring depressive symptoms and prosocial behavior at both timepoints. Regression analyses were carried out to predict outcome measures at follow-up controlling for baseline levels. Results In the MT group, greater OGM at baseline significantly predicted reduced prosocial behavior at follow-up and showed a trend level association with elevated depressive symptoms. Patterns of altered ABM-related brain activity did not significantly predict future psycho-social functioning. Conclusions The current findings highlight the potential value of OGM as a cognitive mechanism that could be targeted to reduce risk of depression in adolescents with prior histories of maltreatment.

scholarly journals Systolic blood pressure response after high-intensity interval exercise is independently related to decreased small arterial elasticity in normotensive African American women

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 484-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Carter ◽  
TaShauna U. Goldsby ◽  
Gordon Fisher ◽  
Eric P. Plaisance ◽  
Barbara A. Gower ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
African American ◽  
Systolic Blood Pressure ◽  
Aerobic Exercise ◽  
High Intensity ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Arterial Elasticity ◽  
Acute Bout ◽  
High Intensity Interval

Aerobic exercise transiently lowers blood pressure. However, limited research has concurrently evaluated blood pressure and small arterial elasticity (SAE), an index of endothelial function, among African American (AA) and European American (EA) women the morning after (i.e., ≈22 h later) acute bouts of moderate-intensity continuous (MIC) and high-intensity interval (HII) exercise matched for total work. Because of greater gradients of shear stress, it was hypothesized that HII exercise would elicit a greater reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) compared to MIC exercise. After baseline, 22 AA and EA women initiated aerobic exercise training 3 times/week. Beginning at week 8, three follow-up assessments were conducted over the next 8 weeks at random to measure resting blood pressure and SAE. In total all participants completed 16 weeks of training. Follow-up evaluations were made: (i) in the trained state (TS; 8–16 weeks of aerobic training); (ii) ≈22 h after an acute bout of MIC exercise; and (iii) ≈22 h after an acute bout of HII exercise. Among AAs, the acute bout of HII exercise incited a significant increase in SBP (mm Hg) (TS, 121 ± 14 versus HII, 128 ± 14; p = 0.01) whereas responses (TS, 116 ± 12 versus HII, 113 ± 9; p = 0.34) did not differ in EAs. After adjusting for race, changes in SAE were associated (partial r = −0.533; p = 0.01) with changes in SBP following HII exercise. These data demonstrate an acute, unaccustomed bout of HII exercise produces physiological perturbations resulting in a significant increase in SBP that are independently associated with decreased SAE among AA women, but not EA women.

Effects of An 8-Week Moderate-Intensity Aerobic Exercise Intervention on Episodic Memory and Cognitive Control

2017 ◽  
Vol 49 (5S) ◽  
pp. 302
Author(s):  
Anthony J. Bocchine ◽  
Ryan L. Olson ◽  
Christopher J. Brush ◽  
Peter J. Ehmann ◽  
Brandon L. Alderman
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Aerobic Exercise ◽  
Exercise Intervention ◽  
Moderate Intensity

scholarly journals Aerobic exercise in severe mental illness: requirements from the perspective of sports medicine

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Falkai ◽  
Andrea Schmitt ◽  
Christian P. Rosenbeiger ◽  
Isabel Maurus ◽  
Lisa Hattenkofer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Aerobic Exercise ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Sports Medicine ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Global Functioning ◽  
Exercise Interventions

AbstractMajor depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia are severe mental illnesses. Despite receiving psychopharmacological and psychosocial treatments, about half of patients develop a chronic course with residual cognitive and negative symptoms and have a high risk for cardiovascular disease and reduced life expectancy. Therefore, add-on innovative treatment approaches are needed to improve outcome. Aerobic exercise interventions have been shown to improve global functioning, cognition, and negative and depressive symptoms in these patients. The basic mechanism of these exercise-related changes has been reported to be improved brain plasticity, e.g., increased volume of disease-related brain regions such as the hippocampus. The optimal type, duration, and frequency of exercise have not yet been determined and need to be addressed in supervised physical exercise studies. Because of the low physical activity levels, lack of drive related to negative and depressive symptoms, and high prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities in patients with severe mental illness, besides aiming to improve symptoms of mental illness, exercise interventions should also aim to increase cardiorespiratory fitness, which they should comprehensively assess by direct measurements of maximal oxygen uptake. Based on the recommendations for developing cardiorespiratory fitness by the American College of Sports Medicine, 150 min moderate-intensity training per week or vigorous-intensity exercise training for 75 min per week are appropriate. Most studies have had relatively short intervention periods, so future studies should focus on long-term adherence to exercise by implementing motivational strategies supported by telemedicine and by identifying and targeting typical barriers to exercise in this patient population.

scholarly journals Threat-Induced Alterations in Cognition and Associations with Disinhibited Behavior

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Blayne McDonald ◽  
Edelyn Verona
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Flanker Task ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Previous Literature ◽  
Behavioral Indicators ◽  
Conflict Processing ◽  
Societal Burden ◽  
Diverse Community ◽  
Threat Of Shock

Previous literature suggests that threat disrupts cognitive control, especially for those prone to engaging in disinhibited behaviors. However, this relationship is not well understood and has yet to be directly examined. Our study extends previous literature by examining the link between individual differences in disinhibition and threat-related alterations in neurocognitive and behavioral indicators of cognitive control. Using a diverse community sample (N=143), we recorded participants’ brain activity during a flanker task under conditions of predictable, unpredictable, and no threat-of-shock. Findings revealed a nuanced relationship, whereby predictable threat, relative to unpredictable threat, was associated with larger N2 to flankers, at the expense of a reduced later P3. Contrary to predictions, higher levels of disinhibition were associated with higher conflict processing (larger congruence P3) and accuracy under conditions of threat relative to no threat. This research expands what is known about threat processing, cognitive allocation, and disinhibited behaviors with high societal burden.

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