The Effects Of Long-term Running On Gray Matter Volume And Cognitive Abilities In College Students

PURPOSE: Existing evidence indicates have demonstrated differences in brain structure between regular runners and controls. However, two questions remain unclear: the clear causal link between these differences and running, and the connection between running-induced plasticity and cognitive performance. This study aims to explore these two issues. METHODS: 16 college students were recruited, including 8 subjects from the running club (22.5 ± 3.1 years old, with running history of 2.6 ± 1.6 years) and 8 healthy controls (18.1 ± 0.3 years). fMRI tests were performed before and after the follow-up using a Philips 3.0 T Trio scanner with a standard 32-channel head coil. Voxel-based morphometry was performed using acquired T1-weighted image data for assessment of GMV. Changes in GMV were calculated through paired-sample t-tests and correlated with performance in cognitive tests (the accuracy and reaction time in Stroop color word test and N-back tests) using Pearson correlation. RESULTS: (1) The running group insisted on training at least three times a week for 1-1.5 hours each time during the follow up period, while the control group did not conduct systematic endurance training;(2) In the running group, GMV was significantly increased in the bilateral prefrontal brain regions (DLPFC region), bilateral medial frontal lobes (MF), right insula (IS), right putamen, and right fronto-parieto-occipitotemporal (rFPO) regions and decreased in the bilateral posterior cerebellum (p < 0.001, FWE corrected). In contrast, no significant changes were found GMV in the control group (p < 0.001, FWE corrected);(3) Significant correlation was found between GMV changes and cognitive performance, including the lDLPFC and 2-back accuracy (r = 0.720, p = 0.002), the rMF and 2-back reaction time (r = 0.707, p = 0.002), the rIS and stroop reaction time (r = 0. 540, p = 0.031), the rFPO and stroop reaction time (r = 0. 641, p = 0.007), as well as 0-back reaction time (r = 0. 561, p = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: Plastic changes in GMV occur after two years of regular running, and the alterations in the lDLPFC, rMF, rIS, and rFPO are associated with cognitive abilities. The current results may offer new insights into the relationship between exercise training, central nervous system plasticity, and cognitive abilities.