Influence of Acute High-Intensity Resistance Exercise on Cognitive Performance and Prefrontal Cortex Oxygenation in Recreational Weightlifters

Acute exercise has been shown to be effective in improving post-exercise cognitive performance, including executive function. In addition, changes in prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation have been linked to any such improvements. Since resistance and higher intensity exercise is much less studied, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of high-intensity resistance exercise on cognitive performance and to determine if PFC activation was related to this cognitive performance in recreationally trained weightlifters. Ten (M = 5, F = 5) college aged (22 ± 2 years) recreationally trained weightlifters completed the Stroop task prior to and 15- and 30-min following a single high-intensity resistance exercise session. Left and right PFC oxyhemoglobin (O2Hb) changes were recorded during all Stroop assessments (pre-exercise, 15- and 30-min post-exercise) via functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Reaction times for congruent and incongruent Stroop tasks were significantly reduced at both post-exercise testing time points but accuracy did not significantly change. Both left and right PFC O2Hb were also not significantly different but there was a trend toward a significant negative relationship between LPFC O2Hb and congruent response times (p = 0.06). The results of this study show improved cognitive performance (via improved reaction times and no change in accuracy) but no significant change in PFC activation. That said, there was a trend toward greater left PFC O2Hb and reduced response times (improved performance). Future research is warranted to explore these cognitive changes following longitudinal exercise interventions in both healthy and clinical populations.