Acute high-intensity and moderate-intensity interval exercise do not change corticospinal excitability in low fit, young adults

Jenin El-Sayes; Claudia V Turco; Lauren E Skelly; Mitchell B Locke; Martin J Gibala; Aimee J Nelson

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0227581

Acute high-intensity and moderate-intensity interval exercise do not change corticospinal excitability in low fit, young adults

PLoS One. 2020 Jan 24;15(1):e0227581. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227581. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Jenin El-Sayes¹, Claudia V Turco¹, Lauren E Skelly¹, Mitchell B Locke¹, Martin J Gibala¹, Aimee J Nelson¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.

Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated a lack of neuroplasticity induced by acute exercise in low fit individuals, but the influence of exercise intensity is unclear. In the present study, we assessed the effect of acute high-intensity (HI) or moderate-intensity (MOD) interval exercise on neuroplasticity in individuals with low fitness, as determined by a peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) test (n = 19). Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to assess corticospinal excitability via area under the motor evoked potential (MEP) recruitment curve before and following training. Corticospinal excitability was unchanged after HI and MOD, suggesting no effect of acute exercise on neuroplasticity as measured via TMS in sedentary, young individuals. Repeated bouts of exercise, i.e., physical training, may be required to induce short-term changes in corticospinal excitability in previously sedentary individuals.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Electromyography
Female
High-Intensity Interval Training*
Humans
Male
Neuronal Plasticity
Physical Fitness / physiology*
Pyramidal Tracts / physiology*
Time Factors
Young Adult

Associated data

figshare/10.6084/m9.figshare.9783788

Grants and funding

This work was funded by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada grant (NSERC RGPIN-2015-06309) to AJN and the Canada Research Chairs Program. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. There was no additional external funding received for this study.