Brawn and Brainpower: Acute Resistance Exercise Improves Behavioral and Neuroelectric Measures of Executive Function

TL;DR

This study shows that a single session of resistance exercise can improve brain functions related to attention and decision-making, possibly through increased blood pressure.

Contribution

The study reveals that acute resistance exercise enhances executive function and identifies systolic blood pressure as a potential mediating mechanism.

Findings

Acute resistance exercise improved processing speed during inhibitory control and working memory tasks.

Systolic blood pressure was found to mediate the effect of resistance exercise on cognitive performance.

Neuroelectric changes indicated improved efficiency in inhibitory control but not in working memory.

Abstract

Acute resistance exercise (RE) is emerging as a promising strategy to improve executive function, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, 121 participants (aged 18–50) were randomly assigned to either a moderate‐intensity RE or rest intervention using a between‐subjects design. We examined the effects of acute RE on behavioral and neuroelectric measures of executive function during a modified Flanker task and an N‐back task, and collected lactate and blood pressure to explore possible physiological mechanisms. Results showed that following acute RE, blood lactate (d = 2.06) and systolic blood pressure (d = 0.99) significantly increased. Improvements in executive function were similarly observed following acute RE, including faster processing speed during inhibitory control (d = 0.37) and working memory (d = 0.46), and decreased P3 latency during inhibitory control (d = 0.41). Moreover, exploratory mediation analyses revealed that systolic blood pressure mediated the effect of RE on response time during both the Flanker (−10.73 ± 4.99, 95% CI = −21.50 to −1.52) and N‐back (−28.20 ± 12.38, 95% CI = −53.22 to −5.37) tasks. Overall, these findings provide evidence that acute RE enhances neuroelectric and behavioral markers of inhibitory control and working memory performance and highlight the potential for systolic pressure as a mechanism through which acute RE influences cognition.

Building upon established aerobic exercise research, the current study highlights the potential of acute resistance exercise (RE) for enhancing executive function, including faster processing speeds during inhibitory control and working memory. Novel investigations into the underlying neuroelectric correlates of attention and conflict monitoring revealed a selective RE‐induced speed and efficiency gain for inhibitory control but not working memory. RE‐induced changes in systolic blood pressure mediated the effects on executive function, indicating a potential physiological mechanism behind improved executive function. These findings advance the understanding of exercise‐induced cognitive improvements, and suggest new avenues for cognitive health interventions.

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