Exercise, Cognitive Function and Neuroplasticity in Healthy Adults

The primary aim of the study is to compare the effects of a moderate intensity aerobic exercise intervention (delivered at 55-64% age-predicted maximal heart rate) with a high intensity aerobic exercise intervention (delivered at 65%-90% age-predicted maximal heart rate) on measures that probe cortical synaptic plasticity using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in sedentary healthy adults.

Inclusion criteria

• Adult males and females aged 18-70 years old
• Primary language is English
• Sedentary (defined as not engaging in purposeful physical activity more than 2 times over the last two months)
• Exercise clearance

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of cognitive, neurologic or orthopedic conditions that could affect performance of the testing and training procedures
• History of migraines.
• History of fainting spells of unknown or undetermined etiology that might constitute seizures
• History of seizures, diagnosis of epilepsy, history of abnormal (epileptiform) EEG or family history of treatment resistant epilepsy
• Any current history of a psychiatric illness
• Any unstable medical condition
• No medication is an absolute exclusion from TMS. Medications will be reviewed by the Principal Investigator and a decision about inclusion will be made based on the following:

• The subject's past medical history, drug dose, history of recent medication changes or duration of treatment, and combination with other CNS active drugs.
• The published TMS guidelines review medications to be considered with TMS (Rossi, Hallett, Rossini, Pascual-Leone, & Safety of TMS Consensus Group, 2009).
• Any metal in the brain, skull or elsewhere unless approved by the responsible MD
• Any medical devices (i.e. Cardiac pacemaker, deep brain stimulator, medication infusion pump, cochlear implant, vagal nerve stimulator)
• Intracranial lesion
• Substance abuse or dependence within the past six months Subjects who, in the Investigator's opinion, might not be suitable for the study