Biology subjects

Stauffer, E.

Publications and source records attributed to Stauffer, E..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Motor memory under sleep deprivation: Can physical exercise support consolidation?

Sleep deprivation (SD) is increasingly prevalent and known to impair declarative memory, yet its impacts on the acquisition and consolidation of procedural skills remains unknown. Physical exercise has emerged as a promising intervention for promoting learning and plasticity, but its potential to mitigate SD-induced deficits has never been tested. Here, we investigated whether SD disrupts sequential motor learning (SML) and whether high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) performed after acquisition can influence consolidation. Forty-eight participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups combining one night of SD or normal sleep condition with HIIE or control intervention. SD elevated cortisol and sleepiness without affecting brain-derived neurotrophic factor or corticospinal excitability. Behaviorally, SD selectively impaired the movement time execution of SML acquisition, while HIIE reduced the movement accuracy during consolidation, regardless of sleep condition. These findings reveal a component-specific vulnerability of procedural memory to SD and challenge the assumption that exercise consistently enhances consolidation following motor learning.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

High-intensity interval exercise affects explicit sequential motor consolidation with both physical and mental practice

High-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) is known to enhance motor consolidation following physical practice (PP), but its effects on sequential motor learning (SML) through PP or motor imagery (MI) remain unclear. We examined whether HIIE modulates SML consolidation in 48 participants who learned an explicit SML task through PP or MI. Performance was assessed before and after acquisition, after HIIE or rest, and at 24 hours and 7 days. Both PP and MI improved performance, with greater gains for PP (p = 0.042), and both induced intracortical disinhibition (p = 0.03). HIIE increased BDNF (p = 0.044) and lactate levels (p < 0.001), markers typically linked to neuroplasticity, yet unexpectedly impaired SML at early (p < 0.01) and late consolidation (p < 0.05), without affecting excitability. These findings challenge the presumed coupling between exercise-induced biomarkers and behavioral gains, suggesting that HIIE may hinder consolidation when explicit components of motor learning are involved. Significance StatementHIIE is increasingly proposed as a tool to boost neuroplasticity and enhance motor learning. However, whether its benefits extend to all forms of learning remains unclear. Here, we show that both physical and motor imagery practice improve SML and induce intracortical disinhibition, a neurophysiological signature of plasticity. Surprisingly, HIIE impaired SML consolidation at both early and late stages, despite increases in BDNF and lactate, biomarkers typically linked to learning facilitation. This deterioration was observed across both practice modalities and is likely driven by the explicit, cognitively demanding nature of the task. These findings challenge the generalizability of HIIEs beneficial effects and highlight the need to align exercise-based interventions with the specific cognitive-motor demands of the learning task. Such insights are critical for optimizing motor learning strategies in both athletic training and neurorehabilitation.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

Long-Distance Trail Running Induces Inflammatory-Associated Protein, Lipid, and Purine Oxidation in Red Blood Cells

Ultra-endurance exercise places extreme physiological demands on oxygen transport, yet its impact on red blood cells (RBCs) remains underexplored. We conducted a multi-omics analysis of plasma and RBCs from endurance athletes before and after a 40-km trail race (MCC) and a 171-km ultramarathon (UTMB(R)). Ultra-running led to oxidative stress, metabolic shifts, and inflammation-driven RBC damage, including increased acylcarnitines, kynurenine accumulation, oxidative lipid and protein modifications, reduced RBC deformability, enhanced microparticle release, and increased senescence markers such as externalized phosphatidylserine (PS). Post-race interleukin-6 strongly correlated with kynurenine elevation, mirroring inflammatory responses in severe infections. These findings challenge the assumption that RBC damage in endurance exercise is primarily mechanical, revealing systemic inflammation and metabolic remodeling as key drivers. This study underscores RBCs as both mediators and casualties of extreme exercise stress, with implications for optimizing athlete recovery, endurance training, and understanding inflammation-linked RBC dysfunction in clinical settings. TeaserMarathon running imparts molecular damage to red blood cells, the effects of which are exacerbated by increased distances of ultramarathons.

biochemistry↗