Each person's brain reacts slightly differently to physical activity. For example, one person may feel an improvement in mood after an intensive bike ride, while another may feel the opposite. Scientists from the Jagiellonian University have shown that the brain activation patterns of these people run differently during the same exercise.
In the next study, scientists will check how to exercise to effectively improve mood, but also strengthen cognitive functions, such as reaction speed. Tomasz Ligęza, PhD, from the Institute of Psychology at the Faculty of Philosophy of the Jagiellonian University received a grant from the National Science Centre to carry out this project.
Studies have long shown that so-called cardio exercises, such as cycling or running, not only improve our fitness and general health, but can also have a beneficial effect on mental health. However, their effectiveness in improving mood may significantly differ between people.
'Of course, we know from research that exercise improves our mood, but this is usually verified for the entire research group. Meanwhile, in reality, when two people do the same exercise, e.g. ride a bike with exactly the same intensity, one person may feel better mentally after such an exercise, whole another feels worse, and yet another will not feel any effects', Tomasz Ligęza describes.
This complicates the understanding of the mechanisms of exercise impact of on mental health; it also raises questions about its effectiveness in this context.
'While analysing the previous literature, as well as conducting a pilot study on 20 people, we noticed that the subjects who did not feel the beneficial effects of physical exercise on well-being had different brain activation patterns than people who felt the effects', the researcher reports.
Scientists from the Jagiellonian University believe that in order to obtain a positive effect on the mental health from exercise - similar in everyone - it is necessary to focus on observing brain activity and adapt the exercises to a given person on this basis.
Currently, the most important parameter that various researchers in this field focus on is the intensity of exercise. In current studies, it is mainly determined based on the pulse, which should be maintained within a specific range. This is the so-called standardized approach based on cardiac measures (cardiac-standardized).
Although this method works well in the case of improving the functioning of the cardiovascular system, it can lead to unpredictable effects on the work of the brain.
'In our pilot study conducted in this standard exercise approach, we asked people to exercise at 60 percent of their maximum pulse. It turned out to lead to different brain activations in individual subjects', Ligęza explains.
In the next part of the study, the participants performed tasks testing their cognitive functions, i.e. requiring, for example, quick reaction, making simple decisions. It turned out that different brain activation caused by cardio activity in each person translated differently into well-being and cognitive functioning.
In their research, scientists from the Institute of Psychology at the Jagiellonian University used EEG, which measures electrical activity of the brain, focusing on certain activity patterns, e.g. brain waves.
'We are mainly interested in activity originating from the prefrontal cortex, because it is the source of our cognitive functions, responsible for controlling emotions, improving mood, but also for cognitive functions, such as memory, executive functions, e.g. self-control', Ligęza says.
In the current project, each participant will perform specific tasks related to cognitive functioning and mood after cardio exercise. The researchers will check which brain activation pattern brings better results for a given person.
'For a specific participant, we will look for such intensity of effort that will trigger specific activations related to this best functioning. It may turn out that in a given person one form of effort will effectively improve mood, but not necessarily cognitive functioning', the researcher assumes.
The scientists hope that thanks to the study with several hundred participants, they will be able to develop the best patterns of brain activity and physical activity, e.g. for gender or age group. However, it may turn out that these issues are so individual that in later practice an effective pattern will have to be developed for each person individually.
'We rely on EEG measures and hope that we will be able to find a simple marker, a marker that will easily measure brain activity, just like heart activity that we now very simply measure with watches. Perhaps one day we will be able to develop a small electrode or a headband that could be applied to the forehead to find the activity pattern in an easy way', Tomasz Ligęza predicts.
The project 'The Fit Brain: A Novel Approach to Understanding and Maximizing the Mental Benefits of Exercise' will continue for five years. The funding of over PLN 3.9 million comes from the Sonata Bis programme of the Polish National Science Centre.
Ewelina Krajczyńska-Wujec (PAP)
PAP - Science in Poland
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