Exercise-induced elevations in cerebral blood velocity are greater in running compared to cycling at higher intensities.

The optimal exercise intensity and modality for maximizing cerebral blood flow (CBF) and hence potential exposure to positive, hemodynamically derived cerebral adaptations is yet to be fully determined. This study compared CBF velocity responses between running and cycling across a range of exercise intensities. Twenty-six participants (12 females; age: 26 ± 8 years) completed four exercise sessions; two mode-specific maximal oxygen consumption (VO ) tests, followed by (order randomized) two incremental exercise protocols (3-min stages at 35%, 50%, 65%, 80%, 95% VO ).