Increased cortisol levels caused by acute resistance physical exercise impair memory and learning ability

Acute physical exercise works as an activator of the responses of the human organism to stress. This is based on the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, affecting physical, physiological and psychological levels. This study aimed to analyse the effects of a single bout of hi...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Bermejo Ferrer, José Luis, Valldecabres Hermoso, Raúl, Villarrasa-Sapiña, Israel, Monfort-Torres, Gonzalo, Marco Ahulló, Adrià, Ribeiro Do Couto, Bruno
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2022
País:España
Institución:Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir
Repositorio:RIUCV. Repositorio de la Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:riucv.ucv.es:20.500.12466/5066
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12466/5066
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Acute exercise
Cognitive performance
Cortisol
Learning
Memory
2411.06 Fisiología del Ejercicio
2411.11 Neurofisiología
Descripción
Sumario:Acute physical exercise works as an activator of the responses of the human organism to stress. This is based on the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, affecting physical, physiological and psychological levels. This study aimed to analyse the effects of a single bout of high-intensity resistance exercise on cognitive-behavioural responses: visuo-spatial path learning and memory, as well as physiological responses (salivary cortisol levels). Nineteen healthy male military-trained powerlifting subjects were tested in a within-subject design on two experimental days with an interval of 48 h. The stress and cognitive variables were measured by cortisol levels and Ruff-Light trail-learning test (RULIT) test scores, respectively. The results showed the immediate influence of acute exercise on cortisol, with significantly higher cortisol levels found in subjects after completion of the acute resistance exercise. In addition, this study found a significant deterioration of memory and learning ability after a dose of intense resistance exercise. In conclusion, the study highlights the relative effects of resistance exercise on cortisol and cognitive performance depending on the intensity and type of the exercise, the moment of measurement and the cerebral areas implicated.