A framework of transient hypercapnia to achieve an increased cerebral blood flow induced by nasal breathing during aerobic exercise.

During exercise, cerebral blood flow (CBF) is expected to only increase to a maximal volume up to a moderate intensity aerobic effort, suggesting that CBF is expected to decline past 70 % of a maximal aerobic effort. Increasing CBF during exercise permits an increased cerebral metabolic activity that stimulates neuroplasticity and other key processes of cerebral adaptations that ultimately improve cognitive health. Recent work has focused on utilizing gas-induced exposure to intermittent hypoxia during aerobic exercise to maximize the improvements in cognitive function compared to those seen under normoxic conditions.