This study examined acute cerebral hemodynamic and circulating neurotrophic factor responses to moderate intensity continuous exercise (MICT), guideline-based high intensity interval exercise (HIIT), and sprint interval exercise (SIT). We hypothesized that the pattern of middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv) response would differ between interval and continuous exercise, with SIT inducing the smallest increase from rest, while increases in neurotrophic factors would be intensity-dependent. In a randomized crossover design, 24 healthy adults (nine females) performed three exercise protocols: (i) MICT (30 min), (ii) HIIT (4 × 4 min at 85% HR), and (iii) SIT (4 × 30 s supramaximal).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe 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 ).
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