Key result
High-intensity exercise alters eyes-open resting alpha activity while moderate yoga shifts eyes-closed alpha frequencies.
Why the study?
The precise functions of alpha sub-oscillations in brain activity following different exercise regimens remained unclear.
Does 8-week high-intensity interval training or moderate-intensity continuous training alter resting-state EEG alpha-band activity and physiological indicators in healthy college students?
Does 8-week high-intensity interval training or moderate-intensity continuous training alter resting-state EEG alpha-band activity and physiological indicators in healthy college students?
Different intensities of 8-week exercise interventions (HIIT vs yoga) produce distinct physiological benefits and specific alterations in resting-state EEG alpha sub-oscillations in healthy college students.
AIM: Long-term moderate- to high-intensity exercise has been shown to significantly enhance overall health such as the improvement of physiological indicators and brain functions. One key aspect of brain activity is alpha-band activity, which encompasses various sub-oscillations within the alpha frequency band. However, the precise functions of these alpha sub-oscillations following different exercise regimens remain unclear. METHODS: We recruited 58 healthy college students and divided them into four groups: Pamela (high-intensity interval training, HIIT), yoga (moderate-intensity continuous training, MICT), and their corresponding matched control group (no exercise) for each exercise intervention group. Participants in the exercise intervention groups underwent training for up to 8 weeks (HIIT or MICT). Resting-state EEG data were collected before and after training, both with eyes open and closed. RESULTS: Following HIIT, the Pamela group experienced a significant reduction in body fat percentage and a notable increase in skeletal muscle mass. In terms of neural activity, the main difference was observed in the mid-frequency alpha range in the frontoparietal region during the eyes-open resting state. Conversely, after 8-week yoga training, participants demonstrated a significant improvement in the duration of maintaining balance and sleep quality, and the main neural difference was reflected in the low- and high-frequency alpha band activities in the bilateral frontotemporal regions during the eyes-closed resting state. CONCLUSION: This study, for the first time, differentiates the effects of long-term moderate- and high-intensity exercise on neural oscillation during different resting states, which highlights that different sub-frequency bands within the alpha frequency band would represent different exercise-related functions.
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Shi et al. (2025) studied Healthy (n=58). High-intensity interval training (Pamela) or moderate-intensity continuous training (Yoga) vs. No exercise was evaluated on Alpha-band activity, body composition, balance, and sleep quality. An 8-week high-intensity exercise altered mid-frequency alpha activity during eyes-open rest, while moderate yoga altered low- and high-frequency alpha activity during eyes-closed rest.
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