Otto Barak, Jelena Popadić-Gaćeša, Dea Karaba-Jakovljević, Miodrag Drapšin, and Aleksandar Klašnja
Department of Physiology, Medical School, University of Novi Sad, Serbia
Abstract
The chronic effects of physical activity on cognitive functions are scarcely documented. The aim of this
experiment was to give inligth on the influence of single bouts of exercise at different intensities on the
amplitude and latency of P300 component of cognitive potentials in the offense team of American
football players. The subject sample consisted of 11 male athletes – members of the American football
team “Dukes” Novi Sad, all engaged in the offense team. The control group was formed of 10 age
matched students of the University of Novi Sad who were not engaged in any organized physical activity.
In the present study the participants were engaged in single bouts of exercise on a cycle ergometer at
different intensities. In American football players the amplitude of P300 wave after exercise intensity
achieved at 75% HRmax (Fz 15.34±3.99 mV; Cz 19.00±6.26 mV) was statistically higher (p<0.05) than
the amlitude at rest (Fz 11.08±4.65 mV; Cz 13.00±5.16 mV) and after exercise at 60% HRmax (Fz
11.87±4.39 mV; Cz 13.43±3.13 mV). There was a significant decrease in amplitude after exercise at 90%
HRmax (Fz 11.96±4.48 mV; Cz 13.82±7.10 mV) to the levels of baseline values obtained at rest. In the
control group the amplitude of P300 wave after exercise intensity achieved at 60% (Fz 11.02±4.99 mV;
Cz 13.98±2.31 mV) and 75% HRmax (Fz 11.58±3.97 mV; Cz 14.64±1.94 mV) were statisticaly higher
(p<0.05) than the amplitude of P300 at rest (Fz 7.99±2.95 mV; Cz 11.56±1.81 mV) and after 90% of
maximal puls (Fz 8.76±3.05 mV; Cz 12.63±3.31 mV). There were no differences (p>0.05) between the
amplitudes after 60% and 75% of HRmax, as well as between the values obtained at rest and after 90% of
HRmax. Short duration exercise corresponding to 75% HRmax facilitated cognitive processing in the
CNS in athletes, showing that strenuous exertion on the field improves cognitive capabilities in American
football players.
Keywords: P300, American Football, Cognitive Abilities.
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