During endurance exercise, what happens to the feed-forward output from higher brain centers to the cardiovascular control center during submaximal tasks?

• A. It increases
• B. It reduces
• C. It remains the same
• D. It becomes erratic

Answer: (B)

During steady, submaximal endurance work, the brain’s anticipatory drive to the cardiovascular system is high at the start to prepare the heart and vessels. Once the exercise settles into a steady pace, this feed-forward input from higher brain centers decreases because the body relies more on feedback from the exercising muscles and reflexes to maintain the needed blood flow and pressure. In short, central command tapers off during steady-state submaximal activity, so the feed-forward output to the cardiovascular control center is reduced.