Cognitive functions are fundamental to everyday life, underpinning the mental processes required to perform any activity. Recent studies have shown that improved cognitive performance is associated with elevated levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which can be increased through an acute bout of physical activity. However, daily variations of BDNF serum and plasma remain poorly characterised and are not fully understood, and their correlation with daily variations in cognitive performance has not been previously explored. This study examines: 1\) the correlation between daily BDNF fluctuations and cognitive performance. 2) whether a single session of exercise can elevate BDNF levels and lead to measurable cognitive improvements.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
15
A five-minute bout of exercise at high intensity (75% of HRmax) repeated for two rounds with a minute rest between rounds. The bout consists of 5 exercises: BW squat, jumping jacks, lunges, crunches and step up. The modality is, in one minute for every exercise, 30 seconds of work and 30 seconds of rest
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua
Padova, PD, Italy
Levels of Serum BDNF (ng/ml)
Blood samples for serum BDNF concentration analysis were collected using a Clot Activator Tube (CAT) and gently swirled ten times, upside down. They were then incubated at room temperature for 30 minutes to allow clot formation. Subsequently, the samples were centrifuged at 1100 g and 4 °C for 10 minutes, and then, the serum was collected, aliquoted, and stored at -80 °C. The analysis of BDNF was performed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, following the manufacturer's instructions (ab212166 - Human BDNF SimpleStep ELISA Kit).
Time frame: blood samples were collected on day one and day two at five specific time points: 9 a.m. (t1), 11 a.m. (t2), 1 p.m. (t3), 3 p.m. (t4), 5 p.m. (t5)
inhibitory control
Inhibitory control was assessed with the Flanker Task. During the task, participants are required to indicate the left-right orientation of a centrally presented stimulus while inhibiting attention to the potentially incongruent stimuli surrounding it (e.g., flankers on either side). The principal outcomes for this task are total errors, the mean reaction time for incongruent and congruent stimuli, and the conflict cost (the difference between the mean reaction times for incongruent and congruent stimuli)
Time frame: The test was performed for each participant on day one and two at three predefined time points 9 a.m. (t1), 1 p.m. (t3), 5 p.m. (t5)
working memory (short-term memory)
Working memory was assessed with the Digit Span Backwards, in which participants are presented with a series of digits and then asked to recall them in reverse order. The main outcome for this test is the memory span.
Time frame: The test was performed for each participant on day one and two at three predefined time points 9 a.m. (t1), 1 p.m. (t3), 5 p.m. (t5)
sustained attention and vigilance
Sustained attention and vigilance were assessed with the Psychomotor Vigilance Task. Participants are presented with a visual stimulus (a simple light) that appears at random inter-stimulus intervals (between 2 and 10 seconds). When the stimulus appears, the participants are required to respond as quickly as possible. The primary outcome for this test is the mean reaction time
Time frame: The test was performed for each participant on day one and two at three predefined time points 9 a.m. (t1), 1 p.m. (t3), 5 p.m. (t5)
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