2008 Volume 29 Pages 56-63
To examine whether acute dynamic exercise could improve brain cognitive function and whether the changes in cerebral blood flow of the frontal brain might be associated with improved cognitive function, a Stroop color-word test（SCWT）was performed in 10 adults before and after ergometer exercise at 20%, 40%, and 60% of the maximum voluntary performance. In SCWT, the subjects were asked to answer a displayed color of a word, which meant "the different color". The total time and number of errors for 50-100 SCWT trials were recorded as index of the cognitive function. We measured the concentration of oxy-hemoglobin（Oxy-Hb）in the frontal brain using near-infrared spectroscopy to monitor local cerebral blood flow. The 40%- and 60%-exercise for 15 min shortened the total time for SCWT and increased Oxy-Hb, though 20%-exercise did not alter them. The number of errors was not altered by any intensity of exercise. The increase in Oxy-Hb started 5 min after the onset of exercise and was sustained during and after exercise. These results suggest that acute dynamic exercise at a moderate intensity for a period of 15 min is able to improve brain cognitive function and the improved cognitive function may be associated with increased cerebral blood flow of the frontal brain.
