Comparative study on the effects of different types of acute exercise on cortisol levels and cognitive functions

Abstract

This study examines the different effects of dual-task and single-task exercises on cortisol levels and cognitive performance. Seventeen male college students participated, performing each exercise on separate days. Salivary samples were taken before and after exercise to assess cortisol levels. Cognitive functions were measured using the 2-Back Test, Bells Test, and Mental Rotation Test. Results showed that both exercises significantly improved reaction times across cognitive tests. However, dual-task exercise caused a more notable increase in cortisol levels (p=0.002) than the single-task. A negative correlation between post-exercise cortisol levels and reaction times suggests that higher cortisol levels might enhance cognitive processing speed. Cognitive performance ac-curacy remained unchanged across both exercises. These findings indicate that while both exercise types enhance cognitive speed, dual-task exercise triggers a greater cortisol response, potentially offering more benefits for cognitive processing speed without affecting accuracy. This research highlights the complex interaction between acute exercise, stress hormones, and cognitive function, providing insights into how different exercise types influence cognitive performance through hormonal pathways.