Key result
Aerobic cycling increases plasma β-endorphins ~75% versus rest, correlating with increased EEG alpha waves.
Why the study?
The effects of aerobic exercise on alpha wave component in EEG and plasma β-endorphin levels were examined to understand their relationship with relaxation effects on the central nervous system.
Does aerobic exercise increase alpha wave component in EEG and plasma β-endorphin?
RCT (n=8)
Open-label
Randomized crossover
No
Does aerobic exercise increase alpha wave component in EEG and plasma β-endorphin?
Absolute Event Rate: 9.6% vs 5.5%
p-value: p=<0.05
Aerobic exercise increases plasma β-endorphin and EEG alpha waves, suggesting a mechanism for its tranquilizing effects on the central nervous system.
May link aerobic exercise to CNS tranquilizing effects; hypothesis-generating and requires larger trials before clinical adoption.
The present study was designed to examine the effects of aerobic exercise on the change of alpha wave component in electroencephalogram (EEG) and plasma β-endorphin. Exercise consisted of 30-min cycling on an ergometer with the load adjusted to elicit a heart rate rise of 50% between resting and predicted maximal value. The EEG signals and blood samples were obtained before and after 30-min exercise. The EEG signal was digitized at a sampling frequency of 64 Hz and analyzed by means of computer-aided decomposition algorithm and frequency power spectral analyses, respectively. The blood samples were immediately centrifuged for 15-min for quantitative analysis of β-endorphin by means of radioimmunoassay method. Results indicated that β-endorphin was significatly (p<.05) greater after exercise as compared to that of the resting contorol. It was also found that the larger the changes in β-endorphin following exercise, the higher the appearance rate of alpha wave in EEG. There was a positive and significant correlation (r=563, p<0.05) between the increase in alpha wave component and that of the plasma β-endorphin. These results suggest that traquilizer effects of aerobic exercise could be explained, at least in part, by the increase of alpha wave component and plasma β-endorphin which in turn bring about the relaxation effects upon the central nervous system.
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Mimasa et al. (1996) conducted an RCT in Healthy (n=8). Aerobic cycling exercise vs. Resting control was evaluated on Plasma β-endorphin level (pg/ml) (p=<0.05). A 30-minute aerobic cycling exercise significantly increased plasma β-endorphin levels and EEG alpha wave appearance, with a positive correlation between the two increases (r=0.563, p<0.05).
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