Acute effects of different physical activity on executive function and regulation role of beta oscillation in sedentary youth frontal region

Chronic sedentary behavior can have a negative impact on the executive function (EF) of young people. While physical activity (PA) has been shown to improve this phenomenon, the effects of different types of PA on EF vary. In this study, we compared the effects of moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) (60-70% HRmax, 30 min), body weight training (BWT) (2 sets tabata, 20 min), and mind-body exercise (MBE) (2 sets Yang style shadowboxing, 20 min) on EF in 59 sedentary youth (n = 59, age = 20.36 ± 1.78, BMI = 24.91 ± 1.82, P>0.05) to identify the optimal dose of PA for improving EF. Metrics related to the EF task paradigm included stop signal, electroencephalogram (EEG), event-related potential (ERP), P300, N200, error-related negativity (ERN), and error positivity (Pe). error positivity (Pe), and β-wave in frontal lobe; training monitoring, including heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), feeling scale (FS), and dual-mode model (DMM); load assessment, including Edward's TRIMP (TRIMP) and session-RPE (s-RPE). The study results indicate that BWT significantly improved accuracy in terms of EF (F = 16.84, P = 0.0381) and was comparable to MICT in terms of shortening reaction time (F = 58.03, P = 0.0217; F = 75.49, P = 0.0178). Regarding ERP, BWT reduced the amplitude values of N200 compared to ERN (F = 44.35, P = 0.0351; F = 48.68, P = 0.0317), increased P300 compared to Pe (F = 97.72, P<0.01; F = 29.56, P = 0.0189), and shortened P300 latency (F = 1.84, P = 0.0406). In contrast, MICT was only effective for P300 with Pe (F = 66.59, P = 0.0194; F = 21.04, P = 0.0342) and shortened N200 latency (F = 27.29, P = 0.0411). The increase in total amplitude and β-oscillation in terms of EEG was proportional to the exercise intensity, with the difference between MICT and BWT being present at 5-20 Hz, and MBE at 10-15 Hz. Regarding training load, the order of HR, RPE, TRIMP, and s-RPE was BWT > MICT > MBE (F = 202.69; F = 114.69; F = 114.69; P = 0.0342). The latency of N200 was also shortened (F = 27.29, P = 0.0411). The results showed that PA improves EF in sedentary youth, although BWT works best, it leads to a decrease in motor perception. Initially, MICT was scheduled alongside MBE and later replaced with BWT. This may help establish an exercise habit while improving EF.