This study examined whether (1) short-term maximal aerobic exercise to exhaustion affects Simple Reaction Time, Visual Spatial Memory, Continual Processing (attention), Code Substitution (short-term memory), and Working Memory over time and between groups and (2) exercise intensity and chronic aerobic activity in young healthy women affect cognitive performance. As women are an understudied population, cognitive function in apparently healthy active (n=9) and sedentary (n=9) 18- to 25-yr.-old female college students was evaluated before, during, and after a short-term maximal bout of treadmill running and compared with that of nonexercising, age-matched controls (n=8). Selected cognitive variables were assessed prior to, directly after VO2max, and after a recovery from VO2max, and working memory was assessed at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of each individual's VO2max. Analysis showed simple reaction time was faster in Active than in Sedentary women but was not affected by exercise. Working memory declined during and immediately after shortterm maximal exercise but improved after recovery from the exercise. Short-term maximal treadmill exercise was associated with reduced Working Memory performance during exercise and improved Working Memory after recovery.

This study examined whether (1) short-term maximal aerobic exercise to exhaustion affects Simple Reaction Time, Visual Spatial Memory, Continual Processing (attention), Code Substitution (short-term memory), and Working Memory over time and between groups and (2) exercise intensity and chronic aerobic activity in young healthy women affect cognitive performance. As women are an understudied population, cognitive function in apparently healthy active (n=9) and sedentary (n=9) 18- to 25-yr.-old female college students was evaluated before, during, and after a short-term maximal bout of treadmill running and compared with that of nonexercising, age-matched controls (n=8). Selected cognitive variables were assessed prior to, directly after VO2max, and after a recovery from VO2max, and working memory was assessed at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of each individual's VO2max. Analysis showed simple reaction time was faster in Active than in Sedentary women but was not affected by exercise. Working memory declined during and immediately after shortterm maximal exercise but improved after recovery from the exercise. Short-term maximal treadmill exercise was associated with reduced Working Memory performance during exercise and improved Working Memory after recovery.

This study assessed multiple salivary and plasma markers before and after incremental shortterm maximal aerobic exercise and in a non-exercising control in conjunction with cognitive testing. Subjects: Apparently healthy 18 -30 years old low CVD risk females participated (n = 19). Methods: Subjects completed two conditions: 1) exercise: short maximal treadmill exercise and cognitive assessment pre-and post-exercise and, 2) non-exercise: with cognitive assessment timed to match testing in the exercising condition. Non-stimulated, timed salivary samples and venous blood were collected before and after exercise and after recovery. Results: Saliva: Over time α-amylase increased in both exercise and non-exercising conditions. Exercise had increases in α-amylase at time matched control points up to 36% greater than the non-exercising conditions. Following exercise and recovery from exercise α-amylase increased compared to baseline (ranging from 47% to 290%). Baseline cortisol was 33% higher than post-exercise and 59% higher than recovery irrespective of exercise. Plasma: NEFA was 50% higher at post-exercise and recovery compared to baseline without exercise and 36% higher at post-exercise and recovery compared to baseline with exercise. Glucose and lactate were, 18% and 50% higher respectively, after exercise compared to baseline and recovery with exercise. Post-exercise glycerol was 11% higher than recovery. Differences between Conditions: Post-exercise glucose and lactate were 20% and 40% higher respectively with exercise. Glycerol was 11% lower after exercise. Conclusions: We demonstrated that acute exercise coupled with cognitive task increased α-amylase levels, but not cortisol, potentially due to a differential stress response, but most likely due to the timing of sample collection.

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