COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE AFTER STRENUOUS PHYSICAL EXERCISE

Stimulating as well as detrimental effects of exercise on cognitive fu nctioning have been reported. In the present study, 15 endurance-train ed athletes (aged 18 to 42 years) performed a bicycle ergometer endura nce test at 75% of their maximal work capacity (Wmax). Psychomotor and cognitive tests were administered before and immediately after exerci se. These consisted of simple reaction time (RT), 3-choice RT and Stim ulus-Response (S-R) incompatible RT tasks, a finger-tapping task, and the Stroop lest. Simple RT tasks, but also the more complex S-R in com patible RT, and Color Word Interference in the Stroop test showed an i ncrease in speed of performance after exercise relative to baseline. A n enhanced activation was probably responsible for this better perform ance on psychomotor and cognitive tests. Since performance on the most complex task, the Interference subtest of the Stroop, was especially improved after exercise, the expectancy of the subjects of a potential positive effect of exercise was thought to have been responsible.