The Effect of Exercise on Brain Functions

NCT ID: NCT06099483

Last Updated: 2024-03-22

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 33 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-08-01
• Study Completion Date: 2023-09-30

Brief Summary

Concept of action simulation; It is an internal representation of motor programs that does not involve explicit movement. Motor imagery method (MI) or movement observation (HG) method are considered two separate action simulation methods that activate motor regions in the brain. Both methods remain a popular and effective tool for improving motor learning. Research has shown that clinicians working in rehabilitation settings are aware of the needs of patients, athletes, etc. are recommended as methods that participants can use to improve their motor skills.

Motor imagery training is a dynamic mental process in which a movement is mentally visualized without any visible movement or any voluntary motor muscle activation. Movement observation training is a method that involves internal, real-time motor simulation of movements in which the observer visually perceives movements performed by another. Mirror neurons, located primarily in the rostral part of the inferior parietal lobe and the ventral premotor cortex, are activated both when an action is physically performed and when the action is observed being performed by another person. Studies using neuroimaging techniques have provided support for this theory by showing that many areas known to be active during action simulation, such as the dorsal pre-motor cortex, supplementary motor area, superior parietal lobe, and intraparietal sulcus, are indeed active during both HG and MI. There is evidence in the literature that MI and HG also trigger sympathetic nervous system activation. There may be changes in respiration, heart rate and skin temperature, as well as an increase in electrodermal activity.

EEG is an inexpensive, noninvasive, and simple examination that can be used to evaluate neurophysiological functions by measuring electrical activity. Understanding the mechanism of beta rhythms is important because they are associated with conscious thinking, logical thinking, memory and problem solving, whereas suppression of beta waves contributes to depression and cognitive decline.

This study will investigate the effectiveness of exercising or watching or imagining exercise on brain functions.

Detailed Description

Participants in the study were divided into 3 groups. One group was shown breathing exercises and asked to imagine these exercises(Motor imagery and action observatin). The second group was made to do active exercises(The same exercises used in motor imagery and action observation were actively performed). The third group was not made to do anything. The exercises lasted 10 minutes. Watching and imagining the movement was also organized as a 10-minute program. That's why the control group was not allowed to do anything for 10 minutes. EEG recordings were taken during this 10-minute period in all three groups.

Conditions

Pulmonary; EEG

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: TRIPLE

Study Groups

action observation and motor imegary

The motor imagery and action observation group was asked to watch a previously recorded breathing exercise video and imagine it as if they were doing it themselves.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Action observation and motor imagery

Intervention Type: OTHER

EEG recording was taken while watching a 10-minute video recording of specified breathing exercises and imagining the exercises.

Active Breathing Exercise Group

Respiratory control, diaphragmatic breathing and thoracic expansion exercises were actively performed for 10 repetitions each.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Active breathing exercise

Intervention Type: OTHER

EEG recording was taken while the physiotherapist performed active breathing exercises for 10 minutes.

Control group

Participants will remain in a sitting position throughout the entire experimental group application. Participants were prevented from making physical movements and were asked to keep their minds closed by closing their eyes and not thinking about anything.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Control group

Intervention Type: OTHER

EEG recording was taken while resting with eyes closed for 10 minutes.

Interventions

Action observation and motor imagery

EEG recording was taken while watching a 10-minute video recording of specified breathing exercises and imagining the exercises.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Active breathing exercise

EEG recording was taken while the physiotherapist performed active breathing exercises for 10 minutes.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Control group

EEG recording was taken while resting with eyes closed for 10 minutes.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Volunteering to participate in the study
• Being between the ages of 18-40
• Not using an assistive device
• Having been using the same medications for the last 4 weeks
• No additional comorbid diseases of the orthopedic, neurological or cardiac system
• Getting 30 or more points from each of the Kinesthetic and Visual Imagination Questionnaire -20 (KGIA-20) visual imagination score and kinesthetic imagination score (The purpose of this criterion is to check that the patients who will be distributed to the cognitive rehabilitation group have sufficient imagination ability and to be able to do the exercises.)

Exclusion Criteria

• Not agreeing to participate in the study
• Patients who have used oral corticosteroid drugs in the last 4 weeks
• Participants who cannot understand verbal instructions and are visually impaired
• Have currently participated in another clinical trial within the last 30 days that may affect the results of the study

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 55 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Istanbul Gedik University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Istanbul Medipol University Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

ebrar atak

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Ebrar Atak, PhD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Istanbul Gedik University

Locations

Ebrar Atak

Yalova, , Turkey (Türkiye)

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

References

Atak E, Atac A. The Acute Effects of Motor Imagery Combined With Action Observation Breathing Exercise on Cardiorespiratory Responses, Brain Activity, and Cognition: A Randomized, Controlled Trial. Cardiovasc Ther. 2025 Feb 22;2025:6460951. doi: 10.1155/cdr/6460951. eCollection 2025.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 40026414 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

ebraratak1

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id