Lastly, swimming improved cognitive functioning acutely, regardless of athlete group. In conclusion, breast‐stroke swimming increased MCAv mean mostly due to postural and PETCO 2 effects, with minimal contributions from water immersion or motor activity. Water immersion per se did not alter cognition ( P ≥ 0.15), but 20 min of moderate‐intensity swimming improved visuomotor performance by 4% ( P = 0.03), regardless of athlete group ( P = 0.12). However, in a subset of participants, both groups had similar internal carotid artery diameters ( P = 0.99) and velocities ( P = 0.97). While accounting for sex, swimmers had ~17% lower MCAv mean during all rest conditions ( P ≤ 0.05). The consequent rise in PETCO 2 during head‐out, breast‐stroke swimming (50% heart rate range) independently increased MCAv mean by 14% ( P < 0.01), while the motor involvement of swimming per se did not significantly change MCAv mean ( P = 0.32). Water immersion independently increased MCAv mean when upright (12% P < 0.01) but not prone ( P = 0.76). Prone posture increased MCAv mean by 11% ( P < 0.01 vs. Measurements of MCAv mean and PETCO 2 were taken throughout each condition. Ten land‐based athletes (22 ± 5 years) and eight swimmers (19 ± 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, and motor involvement). Thus, we examined the cerebrovascular and cognitive effects of swimming. However, MCAv mean has not been reported during swimming. Upright aquatic exercise increases mean middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAv mean) and has been suggested as favorable for cerebrovascular adaptations. Both acute and regular exercise influence vascular and cognitive function.
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