Are Effects of Acute Exercise on Cognitive Function Different between Aerobic and Resistance Training?

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine effects of acute aerobic and resistance exercise on cognitive function, plasma catecholamines （adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine）， serum insulin-like growth factor 1 （IGF-1）， and serum cortisol. Eight participants （mean ± SD, age = 21.6 ± 0.5 yr; height = 1.75 ± 0.04 m; body mass = 72.2 ± 5.7 kg, peak oxygen uptake = 53.4 ± 6.5 ml/kg/min） performed cognitive tasks before and after either aerobic exercise corresponding to 40% of peak oxygen uptake （98.8 ± 12.4 W） or resistance exercise with a resistance tube. We measured plasma catecholamines, serum IGF-1, serum cortisol, blood glucose and lactate concentration, and ratings of perceived exertion （RPE） before and after exercise. Cognitive task was a Go/No-Go task that requires response inhibition and selective attention. We did not observe significant improvements in cognitive function after each exercise, probably due to a low sample size. Nevertheless, we found that increases in plasma adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine following both aerobic and resistance exercise. Serum IGF-1 increased after resistance exercise, while it did not change after aerobic exercise. Similarly, blood lactate concentration also increased only after resistance exercise. Serum cortisol tended to decrease after exercise. In the present study, we found no differences in RPE before and after exercise. These findings will help to understand the effects of acute aerobic and resistance exercise on cognitive function. To understand physiological mechanisms underlying improvements in cognitive function following acute aerobic and resistance exercise, further studies are required with large sample size.