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

PeerJ

article

José-Luis Bermejo¹  Raúl Valldecabres¹  Israel Villarrasa-Sapiña⁴  Gonzalo Monfort-Torres²  Adrià Marco-Ahulló⁶  Bruno Ribeiro Do Couto⁷ 

[1] Department of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, University of Valencia;Human Movement Analysis Research Group - HuMAG ,(GIUV2016-306), University of Valencia;Faculty of Education, Valencia International University - VIU;Universidad Internacional de la Rioja - UNIR;Unidad de Educación, Florida Universitaria;Departamento de Neuropsicología, metodología, psicología social y básica. Facultad de Psicología. Universidad Católica de Valencia;Institute of Biomedical Research of Murcia, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, University of Murcia;Department of Human Anatomy and Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Murcia

关键词: Acute exercise;    Cortisol;    Cognitive performance;    Memory;    Learning;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.13000

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

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.

【 授权许可】

CC BY