Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms Commons^™

Cerebral Hyperemia Is Not A Sole Modulator Of Postexercise Executive Function Benefit: Evidence From Hypercapnia And Passive Exercise, Mustafa Shirzad

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

A single bout of exercise improves executive function (EF); however, the physiological mechanism(s) contributing to this benefit are unclear. One candidate mechanism for the benefit is an exercised-mediated increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) that improves neural efficiency. In my thesis, I conducted two experiments to assess the relationship between an increase in CBF and EF. In Experiment 1, I examined passive exercise, and in Experiment 2, I examined a 2.5% hypercapnic environment given that both interventions increase CBF independent of the metabolic demands of volitional muscle activity. Experiment 1 indicated that passive exercise increased CBF and was associated with …