The effects of an exercise training on steroid hormones in preadolescent children - a moderator for enhanced cognition?

Effect of acute game-based exercises on steroid hormones and cognitive performance in adolescents

PURPOSE

While exercise was found to affect cognitive performance in adolescents, the underlying mechanisms need to be considered. This study compared the effect of a 20 min game-based exercise with different intensities on hormonal responses and potential links to cognitive performance.

METHODS

37 adolescents (24 girls and 13 boys; 15-16 years of age) were randomly assigned into light intensity (LIG; 58.64% HR_max), vigorous intensity (VIG; 89.51% HR_max), and control group (CON). The concentration of salivary Testosterone and Cortisol was measured before, immediately after, 20 min and 60 min after the intervention.

RESULTS

Repeated-measure ANOVA revealed that neither light nor vigorous game-based exercise acutely affects Testosterone, while Cortisol was higher in the VIG, 20 min after the intervention compared to the LIG and CON. Furthermore, changes in Testosterone were negatively associated with changes in cognitive performance after the acute vigorous intensity exercise (r = -0.63, p = .039) and control condition (r = -0.78, p = .003), but positively associated with post-intervention cognitive performance after the acute light intensity exercise (r = 0.67, p = .012).

CONCLUSION

The intensity of game-based exercise affected Cortisol concentration in adolescents, while Testosterone concentration did not change after the intervention. On the other hand, exercise intensity plays an important role in the association between Testosterone concentration and cognitive performance.

Effects of Different Types of Exercise Training on Fine Motor Skills and Testosterone Concentration in Adolescents: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

We sought to compare the effect of two types of exercise training on fine motor skills and to establish their association with the salivary testosterone. Research participants, 135 adolescents (68 adolescent females; mean age = 12.76, SD = 0.85) were assigned into three groups: coordinative exercise (CE), cardiovascular exercise (CVE), and the control group (CON). Fine motor skills were assessed with a drawing trail test and salivary testosterone concentration was measured before and after 10 weeks of intervention. There were no significant changes in fine motor skills and testosterone concentration after either CE or CVE training. However, a significant positive correlation between post-test fine motor skills and post-test testosterone concentration was found after the CVE training. One type of exercise training cannot be singled out as more effective for fine motor skills and testosterone activity. Nevertheless, our results showed a relationship between fine motor skills and testosterone concentration after the CVE training. Thus, the type of exercise training is important in the exercise-induced testosterone effect on fine motor skills.

A randomized controlled trial on the influence of two types of exercise training vs control on visuospatial processing and mathematical skills: The role of cortisol

While physical exercise training (PET) is undoubtedly very important for children and adolescents, there is still a lack of research dealing with the specific impact of different types of PET on cognitive and academic performance and the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The purpose of this study was to compare the impact of two different types of exercise training on visuospatial processing and mathematical skills in adolescents with the analysis of cortisol. We randomly assigned 135 adolescents (12-15 years of age) into three groups: coordinative exercise (CE), cardiovascular exercise (CVE), and control (CON) group. Computerized cognitive test (matching grids), mathematical skills and salivary cortisol level were evaluated before and after 10 weeks of PET (three times per week for 45 min) after school. Reaction time of the matching grids task decreased in all groups while the accuracy was better in CE comparing to control. In addition, the CE group improved the mathematical skills. The participants who improved visuospatial performance had higher mathematics scores after the intervention. However, we did't find any effect of the exercise training intervention on salivary cortisol nor on the link between cortisol and visuospatial processing. Future research should analyze the moderators that influence this link.