University of Birmingham Swimming-related effects on cerebrovascular and cognitive function

Both acute and regular exercise influence vascular and cognitive function. Upright aquatic exercise increases mean middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAv mean ) and has been suggested as favorable for cerebrovascular adapta-tions. However, MCAv mean has not been reported during swimming. Thus, we examined the cerebrovascular and cognitive effects of swimming. Ten land-based athletes (22 (cid:1) 5 years) and eight swimmers (19 (cid:1) 1 years) completed three cognitive tasks and four conditions that were used to independently and collectively delineate the swimming-related factors (i.e., posture, immersion, CO 2 retention [end-tidal CO 2 ; PETCO 2 ], and motor involvement). Measurements of MCAv mean and PETCO 2 were taken throughout each condition. Prone posture increased MCAv mean by 11% ( P < 0.01 vs. upright land). Water immersion independently increased MCAv mean when upright (12%; P < 0.01) but not prone ( P = 0.76). The consequent rise in PETCO 2 during head-out, breast-stroke swimming (50% heart rate range) independently increased MCAv mean by P