Exercise and Memory Laboratory, Department of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA.
Neurophysiology and Behavior Laboratory, Department of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA.
Medicina (Kaunas). 2019 Apr 30;55(5):119. doi: 10.3390/medicina55050119.
: The present study was designed to investigate whether acute physical activity and psychological stress produce different effects on cortisol release and working memory performance. : Male subjects ( = 12; 18-35 years) were recruited and scheduled to come four times to our lab (within-subject design). For each counterbalanced visit, they performed one of the following four protocols: control, moderate physical activity (MOD), vigorous physical activity (VIG), and acute stress. Heart rate was monitored during every protocol. MOD and VIG were performed for 15 min and were defined as 40-50% and 70-80%, respectively, of their maximum heart rate. Acute stress was imposed via the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Salivary samples were collected before and after every protocol to assess cortisol concentrations. Working memory (WM) performance was evaluated through the 2N-Back task right after ending the protocol (early WM) and after a delay of 35 min (late WM). : VIG and stress, but not MOD, increased salivary cortisol concentrations. However, the increases of cortisol produced by VIG and stress were not significantly different. Also, there were no significant differences in working memory performance (late and early) in any of the experimental protocols tested. : These results show that exercise (VIG) and stress produce similar effects on cortisol release and do not support the hypothesis that working memory capacity is influenced by elevated cortisol levels, either from varying exercise intensities or psychological stress.
: 本研究旨在探究急性体力活动和心理应激是否对皮质醇释放和工作记忆表现产生不同的影响。 : 招募了 12 名男性受试者（18-35 岁），并安排他们在实验室进行四次访问（被试内设计）。在每次平衡访问中，他们执行以下四个方案之一：对照、中等体力活动（MOD）、剧烈体力活动（VIG）和急性应激。在每个方案中都监测了心率。MOD 和 VIG 分别进行 15 分钟，定义为最大心率的 40-50%和 70-80%。急性应激通过 Trier 社会应激测试（TSST）施加。在每个方案前后采集唾液样本，以评估皮质醇浓度。工作记忆（WM）表现通过 2N-回任务在结束方案后（早期 WM）和 35 分钟后（晚期 WM）进行评估。 : VIG 和应激会增加唾液皮质醇浓度，但 MOD 不会。然而，VIG 和应激引起的皮质醇增加没有显著差异。此外，在任何测试的实验方案中，工作记忆表现（晚期和早期）都没有显著差异。 : 这些结果表明，运动（VIG）和应激对皮质醇释放产生相似的影响，并且不支持工作记忆能力受皮质醇水平升高影响的假设，无论是来自不同的运动强度还是心理应激。
