Examination of the period for exercise task intervention based on changes in cerebral blood flow dynamics and the brain network using graph theory during the motor learning process

Abstract

Elucidating the relationship between brain function and performance leads to the presentation of basic data for examining the motor task intervention period from the viewpoint of brain function. Therefore, we examined the relationships among cerebral blood flow dynamics, the brain network, and performance by measuring activity in the prefrontal and sensory-motor cortices during motor learning in 18 healthy subjects. Consequently, activation of the prefrontal cortex decreased while brain network efficiency increased as motor learning progressed. In contrast, when motor learning plateaued some areas of the prefrontal cortex were reactivated, and brain network efficiency decreased. Continuous change of brain function and continually performing the same exercise task may also be a means of improving performance.