Efeito da intensidade do exercício físico sobre o controle inibitório, afeto, controle autonômico cardíaco e oxigenação do córtex pré-frontal

Abstract

Introduction: Low grip on most of the population in physical activity programs has been linked to emotional experiences of displeasure caused by the intensity of exercise. Theoretical studies suggest inhibitory control as a key element in regulating emotions of pleasure during exercise performed at different intensities. However, it is still unknown the relationship of inhibitory control with affective responses about the intensity of the exercise. Objective: To analyze the effect of the intensity of the maximum incremental exercise on the inhibitory control, affection, autonomic control and oxygenation of the PFC. Method: Thirty-seven young adults, sedentary, participated randomly in two experimental conditions (control and exercise). In the exercise condition, participants performed a maximal incremental test on a cycle ergometer with concurrent and continuous evaluation of oxygenation of the PFC, heart rate variability (HRV), inhibitory control (Stroop test), affection scales and associative/dissociative thinking (ADT). In the control condition, the volunteers performed the same evaluations of the exercise condition, but without pedaling a cycle ergometer. The benchmark of the experimental protocols for the intensity was determined by the ventilatory threshold (VT). ANOVA was used for repeated measures two away with Bonferroni adjustment, to compare the conditions (control and exercise) and times (eight intensities). Then the Pearson correlation was performed to verify the correlations of emotional feeling and inhibitory control with ADT, HRV and oxygenation of the PFC. Results: (I) high intensity exercise promoted decline in inhibitory control, unpleasantness feeling, increased sympathetic activity and cerebral oxygenation. (II) promoted the increase of the intensity correlation between the decline in inhibitory control (highest number of error) with increasing ADT (r=0.77) and cerebral PFC (DHB: r=0.87; HBT: r=0.75). (III) inhibitory control analyzed by the score efficience inverse, was worse in high and low intensity compared to their behavior at moderate intensity. Conclusion: Intensities above the VT provides decline in inhibitory function and displeasure. The displeasure was related to increases in ADT, the deoxyhemoglobin PFC and sympathetic activity. Our results support that the intensity of exercise can influence the inhibitory control and is associated with emotional feelings.