The Effect of Two Types of Exercise (Endurance and Resistance) on Attention and Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor Levels in Sedentary Students

The vital role of exercise in many aspects of daily life and somewhat cognitive functions are acknowledged but a point that has recently gained researchers'' attention is to investigate the effect of different types of exercises on cognitive functions and the mediating mechanisms of this effect. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of two types of endurance and resistance exercises on the levels of attention and BDNF of sedentary students. Therefore، 46 sedentary students from University of Tehran (mean age 24. 3+1. 8 yr) were assigned to three groups: endurance، resistance and control after the Stroop pretest. After blood samples had been collected، the subjects continued their exercise protocol for five weeks. Finally، at least 48 hours after the last session، the Stroop test was performed and blood samples were collected in order to eliminate the temporary effects of exercises. For data analysis، Kolmogorov–Smirnov test، paired sample t test، one–way ANOVA، MANOVA test، Dunnett''s T3 post hoc test and Pearson correlation coefficient test were used (P≤0. 05). Results showed a significant improvement in the response time of Stroop test in both endurance and resistance groups while expression of BDNF significantly increased only in endurance group (P<0. 05). The control group showed no improvement in any variables. In addition، there was no significant difference between the effect of two types of exercise on the response time of the Stroop test and expression of BDNF (P>0. 05). There was no significant correlation between the variations of response time of the Stroop test and expression of BDNF (P>0. 05). Finally، this research indicated that exercise can improve cognitive functions، but there was no significant difference between endurance and resistance exercises in response to this question that which activity was more useful.