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Intracranial vasomotor and blood flow responses to light-intensity aerobic exercise in young adults: a 4D flow MRI study

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study significantly extends existing research that has assessed cerebral blood flow during aerobic exercise by providing novel measures of intracranial blood flow and vasomotor responses during exercise with 4D flow MRI. In young adults, light-intensity exercise increased blood flow and elicited vasodilation in the large intracranial arteries. Biological sex had modest effects on intracranial blood flow responses during exercise. Overall, light-intensity exercise elicited an 11% increase in global cerebral blood flow.

Source: Journal of Applied Physiology

DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00239.2026