Changes in corticospinal excitability during consolidation predict acute exercise-induced off-line gains in procedural memory

TY - JOUR

T1 - Changes in corticospinal excitability during consolidation predict acute exercise-induced off-line gains in procedural memory

AU - Ostadan, Fatemeh

AU - Centeno, Carla

AU - Daloze, Jean-Felix

AU - Frenn, Mira

AU - Lundbye-Jensen, Jesper

AU - Roig, Marc

N1 - CURIS 2016 NEXS 322

PY - 2016/12/1

Y1 - 2016/12/1

N2 - A single bout of cardiovascular exercise performed immediately after practicing a motor task improves the long-term retention of the skill through an optimization of memory consolidation. However, the specific brain mechanisms underlying the effects of acute cardiovascular exercise on procedural memory are poorly understood. We sought to determine if a single bout of exercise modifies corticospinal excitability (CSE) during the early stages of memory consolidation. In addition, we investigated if changes in CSE are associated with exercise-induced off-line gains in procedural memory. Participants practiced a serial reaction time task followed by either a short bout of acute exercise or a similar rest period. To monitor changes in CSE we used transcranial magnetic stimulation applied to the primary motor cortex (M1) at baseline, 15, 35, 65 and 125min after exercise or rest. Participants in the exercise condition showed larger (∼24%) improvements in procedural memory through consolidation although differences between groups did not reach statistical significance. Exercise promoted an increase in CSE, which remained elevated 2h after exercise. More importantly, global increases in CSE following exercise correlated with the magnitude of off-line gains in skill level assessed in a retention test performed 8h after motor practice. A single bout of exercise modulates short-term neuroplasticity mechanisms subserving consolidation processes that predict off-line gains in procedural memory.

AB - A single bout of cardiovascular exercise performed immediately after practicing a motor task improves the long-term retention of the skill through an optimization of memory consolidation. However, the specific brain mechanisms underlying the effects of acute cardiovascular exercise on procedural memory are poorly understood. We sought to determine if a single bout of exercise modifies corticospinal excitability (CSE) during the early stages of memory consolidation. In addition, we investigated if changes in CSE are associated with exercise-induced off-line gains in procedural memory. Participants practiced a serial reaction time task followed by either a short bout of acute exercise or a similar rest period. To monitor changes in CSE we used transcranial magnetic stimulation applied to the primary motor cortex (M1) at baseline, 15, 35, 65 and 125min after exercise or rest. Participants in the exercise condition showed larger (∼24%) improvements in procedural memory through consolidation although differences between groups did not reach statistical significance. Exercise promoted an increase in CSE, which remained elevated 2h after exercise. More importantly, global increases in CSE following exercise correlated with the magnitude of off-line gains in skill level assessed in a retention test performed 8h after motor practice. A single bout of exercise modulates short-term neuroplasticity mechanisms subserving consolidation processes that predict off-line gains in procedural memory.

KW - Faculty of Science

KW - Cardiovascular exercise

KW - Motor evoked potentials

KW - Long-term potentiation

KW - Motor memory

KW - Transcranial megnetic stimulation

U2 - 10.1016/j.nlm.2016.10.009

DO - 10.1016/j.nlm.2016.10.009

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 27773595

SN - 1074-7427

VL - 136

SP - 196

EP - 203

JO - Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

JF - Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

ER -