Multivariate Pattern Analysis Of Childhood Functional Brain Network Connectivity After Acute Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity

An acute bout of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) can transiently benefit mood and cognition, which may have a basis in resting-state functional brain network connectivity. Yet, little is known about how acute MVPA affects childhood network connectivity and no prior research has utilized a data-driven approach. PURPOSE: With multivariate pattern analysis of functional connectivity, we aimed to characterize the modulation of childhood neural networks resultant from acute MVPA. METHODS: Participants (n = 21; 9-13 years; 43% female) visited the lab three times. On visit one, demographic and aerobic fitness data were collected. On two subsequent visits, participants underwent 21 minutes of either MVPA or seated rest (control) interventions, with pre- and post-intervention resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. A within-participant multivariate pattern analysis contrasted time (pre, post) and condition (MVPA, control) to characterize whole-brain connectivity changes, controlling for age, sex, fitness, socioeconomic status, condition order, and in-scanner motion. RESULTS: Two clusters in the left lateral prefrontal cortex (lPFC) were identified as showing dissimilar pre-to-post connectivity after MVPA relative to seated rest (peak MNI coordinate = -42 + 22 + 22; k ≥ 74; voxel p < 0.001; cluster FWE corrected p < 0.05). Post hoc seed-to-voxel analyses revealed these left lPFC clusters became more correlated with bilateral lPFC (left β = 1.32, right β = 1.27) and caudate activity (left β = 1.03, right β = 1.07), and more anti-correlated with precuneus activity (β = -1.06). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that in children, relative to a seated rest control condition, acute MVPA induces functional connectivity changes in the left lPFC. Increased left lPFC to bilateral caudate correlations suggest frontoparietal network integration with subcortical regions involved in movement; increased bilateral lPFC correlations suggest more coordination within the frontoparietal network; increased left lPFC to precuneus anti-correlations suggest better segregation of frontoparietal and default mode networks. Such patterns are often associated with healthier cognitive and emotional control and may underly the transient mental benefit of acute MVPA.