Exercise Intensity on Brain & Mental Health in Stress

ABSTRACT

ConditionHealthy Adults;Adults With Stress-related Symptoms

InterventionBehavioral Seated rest;Behavioral Exercise at moderate intensity;Behavioral Exercise at vigorous intensity

Primary outcome:Changes in cerebral blood flow in prefrontal cortex

Criteria
Inclusion Criteria

For participants both with and without stress-related symptoms

- Age 20-40 years

- Absence of contraindications to physical exercise

- Do not participate in any other study

For participants with stress-related symptoms

• Total score on the self-assessment scale 4-factor Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure-19
greater than or equal to 2.95 but lower than 4.00

For healthy controls

• Total score on the self-assessment scale 4-factor SMBM-19 lower than or equal to 2.21

Exclusion Criteria

For participants both with and without stress-related symptoms

- Medical contraindication to catheterization of the antecubital vein and blood sampling

- Dementia

- Alcohol abuse

- Smoking

- Chronic medication that is considered to affect study outcomes

- Chronic disease/syndrome such as migraine, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome,
bipolar syndrome, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) or other lung disease

- Post-COVID

- Other somatic diseases, disorders, or injuries that may affect the physical ability
during physical exercise

Exclusively for healthy controls

• Depression (HAD depression score < 8) and anxiety (HAD anxiety score < 8)