Effects of a Bout of Intense Exercise on Some Executive Functions

Marinella Coco, Andrea Buscemi, Claudia Savia Guerrera, Donatella Di Corrado, Paolo Cavallari, Agata Zappalà, Santo Di Nuovo, Rosalba Parenti, Tiziana Maci, Grazia Razza, Maria Cristina Petralia, Vincenzo Perciavalle and Valentina Perciavalle
Additional contact information
Marinella Coco: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Andrea Buscemi: Horus Social Cooperative, Department of Research, 97100 Ragusa, Italy
Claudia Savia Guerrera: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Donatella Di Corrado: Department of Human and Social Sciences, School of Sport Sciences, Kore University, 94100 Enna, Italy
Paolo Cavallari: Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Human Physiology Section, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
Agata Zappalà: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Santo Di Nuovo: Department of Educational Sciences, 95100 Catania, Italy
Rosalba Parenti: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Tiziana Maci: Independent Researcher, 95100 Catania, Italy
Grazia Razza: Independent Researcher, 95100 Catania, Italy
Maria Cristina Petralia: Department of Educational Sciences, 95100 Catania, Italy
Vincenzo Perciavalle: Department of Human and Social Sciences, School of Sport Sciences, Kore University, 94100 Enna, Italy
Valentina Perciavalle: Department of Educational Sciences, 95100 Catania, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 3, 1-11

Abstract: The present study examined the effects of an exhaustive exercise on executive functions by using the Stroop Color Word Test (SCWT), Trail Making Test (TMT), A and B, and simple Reaction Time (RT). Thirty adults agreed to participate; 15 participants had a mean age of 24.7 years ± 3.2 Standard Deviation (SD, Standard Deviation) (group YOUNG), while the remaining 15 had a mean age of 58.9 years ± 2.6 SD (group OLD). Each subject performed the cognitive tasks at rest and blood lactate was measured (pre); each subject executed the acute exhaustive exercise and, immediately after the conclusion, executed the cognitive tasks and blood lactate was again measured (end). Cognitive tests were repeated and blood lactate measured 15 min after its conclusion of the exhaustive exercise (post). We observed: (1) a significant positive correlation between blood lactate levels and RT levels; (2) a significant negative relationship between levels of blood lactate and the SCWT mean score; (3) no significant correlation between blood lactate levels and TMT scores (time and errors), both A and B; (4) variations in blood lactate levels, due to exhaustive exercise, and parallel deterioration in the execution of RT and SCWT are significantly more pronounced in the group YOUNG than in the group OLD. The present study supports the possibility that high levels of blood lactate induced by an exhaustive exercise could adversely affect the executive functions pertaining to the prefrontal cortex.

Keywords: executive functions; young sport; blood lactate; exhaustive exercise; fatigue; elderly sport (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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