Acute and Chronic Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Motor Inhibition and Cortical Excitability in Adolescents With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Brain Behav. 2026 Aug;16(8):e71600. doi: 10.1002/brb3.71600.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Accumulating evidence suggests that acute aerobic exercise facilitates improvement in motor inhibition among adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), potentially through exercise-induced modulation of cortical excitability. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of both acute and chronic aerobic exercise on motor inhibition and cortical excitability, and to elucidate the relationship between these variables in adolescents diagnosed with ADHD.

METHODS: A partial cross-over experimental design was employed. Twenty-four adolescents with ADHD underwent assessments of motor inhibition and cortical excitability before and after engaging in either acute or chronic aerobic exercise, or a control intervention.

RESULTS: Both acute and chronic aerobic exercise elicited significant enhancements in motor inhibition, with chronic aerobic exercise demonstrating more pronounced effects. Furthermore, chronic aerobic exercise resulted in a significant reduction in cortical excitability compared to both the control condition and acute aerobic exercise. In addition, the degree of improvement in motor inhibition was positively associated with increased cortical inhibition.

DISCUSSION: These findings suggest that the enhancement of motor inhibition following aerobic exercise in adolescents with ADHD may be underpinned by specific neurophysiological mechanisms related to cortical excitability. Particularly, chronic aerobic exercise appears to exert a more robust modulatory effect, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic strategy for improving motor inhibitory function in this population.

PMID:42552869 | DOI:10.1002/brb3.71600