High-intensity interval training to promote cerebral oxygenation and affective valence during exercise in individuals with obesity Rehabilitative exercise training in obesity

International audienceLeft/right prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation are linked to positive/negative affects, respectively. Besides, larger left PFC oxygenation during exercise relates to higher cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is superior to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) in improving CRF. The influence of training on PFC oxygenation and affects during exercise in individuals with obesity is, however, currently unknown. Twenty participants with obesity (14 males, 48±8 years, body-mass index= 35±6 kg•m-2) were randomized to MICT [50% peak work rate (WRpeak)] or HIIT (1min bouts 100% WRpeak; 3 sessions/week, 8 weeks). Before/after training, participants completed an incremental ergocycle test. Near-infrared spectroscopy and the Feeling Scale assessed PFC oxygenation and affects during exercise, respectively. Improvements in CRF (e.g. WRpeak: 32±14 vs 20±13W) were greater after HIIT vs MICT (p<0.05). Only HIIT induced larger left PFC oxygenation (hemoglobin difference from 7±6 to 10±7 μmol) and enhanced affective valence (from 0.7±2.9 to 2.2±2.0; p<0.05) at intensities ≥ second ventilatory threshold. Exercise-training induced changes in left PFC oxygenation correlated with changes in CRF [e.g. WRpeak (% predicted), r=0.46] and post-training affective valence (r=0.45; p