Reward sensitivity and emotional reactivity have been identified as two candidate mechanisms of anhedonia in depression. There is a paucity of research examining whether deficits in reward sensitivity and emotional reactivity can be modified through brief, behavioral interventions. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on the reward positivity (RewP) and late positive potential (LPP) among individuals reporting variable symptoms of depression. Using a within-subjects design, 66 young adults completed a 30-min session of aerobic exercise and seated rest on separate days. Reward sensitivity and emotional reactivity were assessed following each session using the RewP and LPP event-related brain potentials (ERPs). Results indicated that the LPP to positive stimuli was potentiated following exercise, while no effect on RewP was observed. Notably, individuals who experienced greater emotional reactivity to positive stimuli following exercise also exhibited increased sensitivity to rewards. Depressive symptom severity failed to moderate any effects, suggesting beneficial effects of acute exercise on positive emotional reactivity across depressive symptom profiles. These findings suggest that aerobic exercise increases emotional engagement to positive stimuli, which may have implications for resolving deficits in emotional reactivity to positive content in depression.

奖励敏感性和情绪反应性已被确定为抑郁症中性快感缺乏的两个候选机制。缺乏研究来检验是否可以通过短暂的行为干预来弥补奖励敏感性和情感反应性的缺陷。这项研究的目的是检查中等强度的有氧运动对报告抑郁症状多种多样的个体的奖励积极性（RewP）和晚期正电位（LPP）的影响。使用受试者内部设计，有66位年轻人完成了30分钟的有氧运动，并在不同的日子坐下休息。在每个疗程之后，使用RewP和LPP事件相关的脑电势（ERP）评估奖励敏感性和情绪反应性。结果表明，运动后LPP对阳性刺激的作用增强，而未观察到对RewP的影响。值得注意的是，运动后对积极刺激产生更大情感反应的个体也表现出对奖赏的敏感性增加。抑郁症状的严重程度未能减轻任何影响，这表明急性运动对整个抑郁症状的积极情绪反应具有有益作用。这些发现表明，有氧运动可增加对积极刺激的情绪参与，这可能有助于解决情绪低落对积极情绪的影响。提示急性运动对抑郁症状的正面情绪反应有积极作用。这些发现表明，有氧运动可增加对积极刺激的情绪参与，这可能有助于解决情绪低落对积极情绪的影响。提示急性运动对抑郁症状的正面情绪反应有积极作用。这些发现表明，有氧运动可增加对积极刺激的情绪参与，这可能有助于解决情绪低落对积极情绪的影响。