Effect of acute aerobic exercise on internet craving among college students with internet dependency: The mediating role of prefrontal cortex and executive control

The present study aimed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of acute aerobic exercise at high and moderate intensities on executive control and internet craving, and their associations in college students with internet dependency (ID) Sixty participants with ID were randomly assigned to one of three groups: A 30-min high-intensity cycling exercise session, a 30-min moderate-intensity cycling exercise session, or no exercise. At baseline and after acute aerobic exercise treatment, self-reported internet craving was assessed immediately, and executive control in all participants was evaluated using the go/NoGo, 2-back, and more-odd shifting tasks. Brain activity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) was measured and evaluated using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) The results showed different but effective reductions in internet craving, significantly improved executive control with shorter response times and higher accuracy, and increased activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the orbitofrontal lobe (OFC) after a 30-min acute aerobic exercise session at high or moderate intensity. Further correlation analysis revealed significantly close associations, either positive or negative among these variables. The serially mediated effects of inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility were demonstrated, respectively These findings suggest that performing aerobic cycling exercise alleviates internet craving in college students with ID. Such benefits may be maximized by the promoted executive control and be mediated by enhanced neurocognitive activations in the DLPFC and OFC. These exercise-enhanced improvements in cognitive and PFC functions are pivotal for reducing internet-induced craving and could have clinical benefits • Performing a 30-min aerobic cycling exercise can alleviate Internet craving in college students with Internet dependency • High-intensity aerobic cycling exercise is linked to greater neural activation and craving relief • Such an exercise at moderate-intensity has a greater impact on executive control performance • Exercise-induced benefits may be mediated by the enhanced activation in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and orbitofrontal lobe • The improved executive control is pivotal in alleviating internet craving