Effect of acute bout of moderate exercise on P300 component of event-related potential in young women during different phases of menstrual cycle: A pilot study

Abstract

Objectives: Ovarian hormones not only regulate reproductive functions but also are implicated in emotional and cognitive processing. But, menstrual cycle studies do not provide convincing evidences. However, evidence supports a link between estrogen depletion and risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Physical exercise has shown to improve a person’s attentiveness and cognitive skills. Since both exercise and ovarian hormones may affect cognition, the present study intends to determine the effect of acute bout of moderate exercise on cognitive processing in young women in early proliferative phase and mid-luteal phase. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional, observational study conducted on young, normally menstruating women of 18-35 years (n = 20). Each participant attended two laboratory sessions, early follicular phase (initial 3 days post-menstruation) and mid luteal phase (days 21-24). The participants filled up Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ) and their basal central, brachial blood pressures and P300 Event Related Potential (ERP) were recorded. Then, the subjects performed step test till they achieved 60-80% of their maximum heart rate. Afterwards, their central and brachial blood pressure and heart rate were recorded. The participants then filled up Borg perceived exertion scale questionnaire. Post exercise P300 ERP was recorded after 15 min of exercise. Results: Significant changes in all cardiovascular parameters in post-exercise session were observed in both phases of menstrual cycle. The amplitude and latencies of P300 ERP showed no significant difference at resting state (pre-exercise) during both phases. P300 ERP latency showed significant decrease in post-exercise session when recorded at Cz (P = 0.024, P = 0.05) and Pz position (P = 0.03, P = 0.003) in both phases except in Fz position. But there was no significant change in amplitude. MANCOVA analysis revealed that only amplitude of P300 ERP (P = 0.023) in post-exercise session during mid-luteal phase was affected by basal activity level significantly. Conclusion: The present study documented that an acute bout of moderate exercise caused significant decrease in latency of P300 ERP in the participants during both phases of menstrual cycle. Therefore, it can be stated that even acute bout of moderate exercise significantly enhances attention allocation, working memory in the participants; thereby it enhances cognitive functioning of the individual.