Acute exercise-related cognitive effects are not attributable to changes in end-tidal CO2 or cerebral blood velocity

Leena N Shoemaker, Luke C Wilson, Samuel J E Lucas, Liana Machado, James D Cotter

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

PURPOSE: Cognition, cerebral blood flow (CBF) and its major regulator (i.e., arterial CO2), increase with submaximal exercise and decline with severe exercise. These responses may depend on fitness. We investigated whether exercise-related changes in cognition are mediated in part by concomitant changes in CBF and CO2, in ten active (26 ± 3 years) and ten inactive (24 ± 6 years) healthy adults.

METHODS: Participants completed two randomised sessions; exercise and a resting CO2-control-wherein end-tidal CO2 (PETCO2) was matched between sessions and clamped across conditions at exercise-associated increases (+ 3 mmHg) and hypercapnia (+ 10 mmHg). Exercise comprised inclined walking at submaximal and severe intensities. CBF was indexed using right middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAv). Cognition (visuomotor, switching and inhibitory response time) was measured before, during, and after exercise.

RESULTS: MCAv and its inverted-U response to exercise were comparable between groups, whereas visuomotor performance improved during submaximal exercise in the active group only (p = 0.046). Submaximal, but not severe (p = 0.33), exercise increased MCAv (p ≤ 0.03). Hypercapnia increased MCAv during the CO2-control (27 ± 12%) and during submaximal exercise (39 ± 17%; p < 0.01). Despite the acute increases in MCAv, cognition was impaired during both levels of increased PETCO2 (3-6%; p ≤ 0.04), regardless of session. Overall, resting or exercise-related changes in PETCO2 and MCAv did not associate with changes in cognition (r ≤ 0.29 ± 0.34). Fitness ([Formula: see text]O2MAX) was associated with baseline cognition (r ≥ 0.50).

CONCLUSION: Acute increases in PETCO2 and MCAv were not associated with improved cognition. In fact, cognitive performance was impaired at both levels of increased PETCO2, regardless of session. Finally, fitter people were found to have better cognition.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1637-1649
JournalEuropean Journal of Applied Physiology
Volume120
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 31 May 2020

Keywords

  • Cerebral blood flow
  • Cognition
  • Exercise
  • Fitness
  • Hypercapnia
  • Response time

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Physiology (medical)

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