Acute exercise on complex motor memory retention: the role of task cognitive demands

Acute exercise performed immediately after motor skill practice can promote motor retention. Though this effect has been largely reported using simple tasks, whether more complex motor tasks would equally benefit from acute exercise is unknown. The aim of the present study was thus to evaluate the effects of a single high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on the retention of complex motor skills and to compare the results when the motor task involved required executive functions (EF) and when it did not (NEF). Sixty young adults performed a golf-putting task in which target squares were designated either by a fixed number (NEF group) or by Stroop effect (EF group). Performance was assessed by measuring accuracy in getting the golf ball into the target square. Immediately after, half of each group either performed a 13-minute running HIIT session or rested. Seven days later, the same golf-putting task was repeated. Both exercise subgroups showed significant improvements in accuracy after one week, with the EF-exercise subgroup improving more than the NEF-exercise subgroup. These findings suggest that acute exercise can facilitate complex motor skill retention, while these effects may be modulated by the degree of EF involved in the execution of the motor task.