Abstract Aim:

This systematic review aimed to investigate the acute effects of cardiovascular exercise on motor learning of non-disabled individuals.

Methods:

Forty studies were identified through database searching (PsycINFO, CENTRAL, Google Scholar, Scielo, and PUBMED).

The studies demonstrated heterogeneity and were classified into two categories to guide the analyses:

(1) - studies that investigated the effects of exercise-induced fatigue during practice on the performance in the retention test; (2) - studies that verified the acute impact of the cardiovascular exercise in close temporal proximity to the task practice on motor learning.

Results:

The studies demonstrated that (1) - the practice under fatigue conditions did not impair motor learning and that (2) - the cardiovascular exercise bout performed in close temporal proximity to task practice enhances the motor learning processes.

Conclusion:

Cardiovascular exercise enhances motor learning processes; however, these priming effects are dependents on the timing between practice and exercise, type of exercise, and task characteristics.