Research increasingly supports the role of aerobic exercise and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in enhancing cognitive function and brain health, with studies typically focusing on task-related cognitive performance and neurophysiological measures. However, the extent to which these cognitive benefits of CRF translate to non-task-related brain function, as reflected in resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG), remains largely unexamined. This study investigated the association between CRF, as measured by maximal oxygen consumption (VȮ_2max), and resting EEG power in the delta, theta, alpha-1, alpha-2, and beta frequency bands. One hundred and nineteen healthy young adults (58 females, mean age = 22 ± 3 years) completed a graded exercise test to measure VȮ_2max and resting-state EEG recording in counterbalanced eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions. After controlling for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI), there was a significant vision effect for all the frequency bands, where power was lower in the eyes-open condition compared to eyes-closed. VȮ_2max emerged as a significant predictor of EEG power in the alpha-2 (B = 0.009, SE(B) = 0.003, β = 0.174, p = 0.008) and beta (B = 0.005, SE(B) = 0.002, β = 0.18, p = 0.013) frequency bands. VȮ_2max was not related to delta, theta, or alpha-1 power. The CRF-EEG associations selectively observed in faster frequency bands (alpha-2 and beta) suggest that when visual input and related sensory processing are minimized higher CRF may reflect cortical readiness or an optimized neural state theorized to support cognitive engagement. Findings from the current study provide evidence to support the beneficial role of CRF to cognitive health by extending its benefits to resting-state brain function.

Keywords: Alpha frequency; Beta frequency; Brain activity; Cognitive function; Spectral analysis.

Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier B.V.

越来越多的研究支持有氧运动和心肺功能（CRF）在提升认知功能和大脑健康方面的作用，这些研究通常关注任务相关的认知表现和神经生理测量。然而，心肺功能对非任务相关脑功能的影响如何体现，尤其是在静息状态下的脑电图（EEG）中，这一领域还缺乏深入的研究。本研究探讨了最大摄氧量（VȮ_2max）衡量的心肺功能与静息状态下δ、θ、α-1、α-2和β频带脑电功率之间的关联。共有119名健康的年轻成人（58名女性，平均年龄= 22 ± 3岁）完成了梯度运动测试以测量VȮ_2max和静息态EEG记录，并在闭眼和睁眼条件下进行平衡处理。在控制了年龄、性别和体重指数（BMI）的影响后，所有频带的脑电功率均存在显著的视觉效应，在睁眼条件下比闭眼条件下的功率要低。VȮ_2max成为α-2（B = 0.009, SE(B) = 0.003, β = 0.174, p = 0.008）和β（B = 0.005, SE(B) = 0.002, β = 0.18, p = 0.013）频带脑电功率的显著预测因子。VȮ_2max与δ、θ或α-1频带的脑电功率无关。在较快频率（α-2和β）频带上观察到的心肺功能-EEG关联表明，当视觉输入及相关感觉处理被最小化时，较高心肺功能可能反映大脑皮层准备状态或被认为支持认知参与的最佳神经状态。本研究发现为心肺功能对认知健康的有益作用提供了证据，扩展了其在静息态脑功能中的益处。

关键词：α频带；β频带；脑活动；认知功能；谱分析

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