The Effect of a Periodic of Interval Training on Brain Waves and Electrical Activity of the Cerebral Cortex in Healthy Young Girls

Exercise at different intensities can provide effective stimuli for the adaptation of brain function, because the activation of the cerebral cortex is sensitive to the frequency of movement. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of six weeks interval training on brain waves and electrical activity of the cerebral cortex in healthy young girls.

In this quasi-experimental study, 10 young girls with an age range of 20-30 years who had no history of exercise and interval training were randomly selected and performed interval training for six weeks (three sessions per week) with an intensity of 40-50% of maximum heart rate. they did. Alpha and beta brain waves were measured before and after six weeks by electroencephalography. Then the data were analyzed using paired t-test and SPSS software version 21 at a significance level of p≤0.05.

Analysis of data using paired t-test showed that the amount of changes in alpha and beta brain waves after six weeks of interval training in the post-test was significantly different from the pre-test (p = 0.001)

Based on the present results, it can be concluded that regular exercise may cause positive changes at the level of the cerebral cortex (electrical activity). Therefore, the interval training protocol can be an effective intervention to improve brain waves and electrical activity of the cerebral cortex and potentially promote brain health.