Neurophysiological Stress Response and Mood Changes Induced by High-Intensity Interval Training: A Pilot Study

This pilot study, conducted in advance of a future definitive randomized controlled trial, aimed to investigate the feasibility of using a HIIT-based intervention to induce neurophysiological stress responses that could be associated with possible changes in mood. Twenty-five active male college stu...

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Main Authors: Inmaculada C. Martínez-Díaz, Luis Carrasco
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-07-01
Series:International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/14/7320
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spelling doaj-1266d629e7394ddbb8b2d0772ec0fa282021-07-23T13:43:30ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1661-78271660-46012021-07-01187320732010.3390/ijerph18147320Neurophysiological Stress Response and Mood Changes Induced by High-Intensity Interval Training: A Pilot StudyInmaculada C. Martínez-Díaz0Luis Carrasco1Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Seville, E-41013 Seville, SpainDepartment of Physical Education and Sport, University of Seville, E-41013 Seville, SpainThis pilot study, conducted in advance of a future definitive randomized controlled trial, aimed to investigate the feasibility of using a HIIT-based intervention to induce neurophysiological stress responses that could be associated with possible changes in mood. Twenty-five active male college students with an average age of 21.7 ± 2.1 years, weight 72.6 ± 8.4 kg, height 177 ± 6.1 cm, and BMI: 23.1 ± 1.4 kg/m<sup>2</sup> took part in this quasi-experimental pilot study in which they were evaluated in two different sessions. In the first session, subjects performed a graded exercise test to determine the cycling power output corresponding to VO<sub>2peak</sub>. The second session consisted of (a) pre-intervention assessment (collection of blood samples for measuring plasma corticotropin and cortisol levels, and application of POMS questionnaire to evaluate mood states); (b) exercise intervention (10 × 1-min of cycling at VO<sub>2peak</sub> power output); (c) post-intervention assessment, and (d) 30-min post-intervention evaluation. Significant post-exercise increases in corticotropin and cortisol plasma levels were observed whereas mood states decreased significantly at this assessment time-point. However, a significant increase in mood was found 30-min after exercise. Finally, significant relationships between increases in stress hormones concentrations and changes in mood states after intense exercise were observed. In conclusion, our HIIT-based intervention was feasible to deliver and acceptable to participants. A single bout of HIIT induced acute changes in mood states that seems to be associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/14/7320exerciseHIITstressmood statescortisolcorticotropin
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Inmaculada C. Martínez-Díaz
Luis Carrasco
spellingShingle Inmaculada C. Martínez-Díaz
Luis Carrasco
Neurophysiological Stress Response and Mood Changes Induced by High-Intensity Interval Training: A Pilot Study
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
exercise
HIIT
stress
mood states
cortisol
corticotropin
author_facet Inmaculada C. Martínez-Díaz
Luis Carrasco
author_sort Inmaculada C. Martínez-Díaz
title Neurophysiological Stress Response and Mood Changes Induced by High-Intensity Interval Training: A Pilot Study
title_short Neurophysiological Stress Response and Mood Changes Induced by High-Intensity Interval Training: A Pilot Study
title_full Neurophysiological Stress Response and Mood Changes Induced by High-Intensity Interval Training: A Pilot Study
title_fullStr Neurophysiological Stress Response and Mood Changes Induced by High-Intensity Interval Training: A Pilot Study
title_full_unstemmed Neurophysiological Stress Response and Mood Changes Induced by High-Intensity Interval Training: A Pilot Study
title_sort neurophysiological stress response and mood changes induced by high-intensity interval training: a pilot study
publisher MDPI AG
series International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
issn 1661-7827
1660-4601
publishDate 2021-07-01
description This pilot study, conducted in advance of a future definitive randomized controlled trial, aimed to investigate the feasibility of using a HIIT-based intervention to induce neurophysiological stress responses that could be associated with possible changes in mood. Twenty-five active male college students with an average age of 21.7 ± 2.1 years, weight 72.6 ± 8.4 kg, height 177 ± 6.1 cm, and BMI: 23.1 ± 1.4 kg/m<sup>2</sup> took part in this quasi-experimental pilot study in which they were evaluated in two different sessions. In the first session, subjects performed a graded exercise test to determine the cycling power output corresponding to VO<sub>2peak</sub>. The second session consisted of (a) pre-intervention assessment (collection of blood samples for measuring plasma corticotropin and cortisol levels, and application of POMS questionnaire to evaluate mood states); (b) exercise intervention (10 × 1-min of cycling at VO<sub>2peak</sub> power output); (c) post-intervention assessment, and (d) 30-min post-intervention evaluation. Significant post-exercise increases in corticotropin and cortisol plasma levels were observed whereas mood states decreased significantly at this assessment time-point. However, a significant increase in mood was found 30-min after exercise. Finally, significant relationships between increases in stress hormones concentrations and changes in mood states after intense exercise were observed. In conclusion, our HIIT-based intervention was feasible to deliver and acceptable to participants. A single bout of HIIT induced acute changes in mood states that seems to be associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation.
topic exercise
HIIT
stress
mood states
cortisol
corticotropin
url https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/14/7320
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