Nafiseh Afshari; Shahzad Tahmasebi Boroujeni; Naser Naghdi; Rasool Hemayat Talab
Abstract
Increased level of stress has negative effects on cognitive functions. Thus, it is necessary to identify appropriate strategies to prevent cognitive and motor performance decline. The aim of this research was to study the effect of immobilization stress on learning and memory and the protective role ...
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Increased level of stress has negative effects on cognitive functions. Thus, it is necessary to identify appropriate strategies to prevent cognitive and motor performance decline. The aim of this research was to study the effect of immobilization stress on learning and memory and the protective role of physical activity in them. From male Albino-Wistar rats of Pastor Institute, 32 rats were randomly divided into four groups. According to the type of the groups, rats were exposed to stress interventions including immobilization (two hours per day for 21 days), moderate running (30 minutes per day for 21 days), combination of stress interventions and running and also without any interventions. In order to determine the effectiveness of stress, animal weights were measured in two phases: before the protocol and after the tests. Morris Water Maze in several steps (four days for the acquisition phase, the fifth day for Probe test, three days for resting and the ninth day for recall test) was used for learning and testing of rats. ANOVA test with repeated measures and paired sample t test in acquisition phase and Tukey post hoc test were used to analyze data. The results revealed that stress damaged learning and memory (P=0.03). However, physical activity neutralized performance damage caused by stress (P=0.000). Physical activity group showed a significant positive effect on the time to reach the platform in the acquisition phase (P=0.005) and on cognitive function in recall phase (P=0.006) which was a sign of positive effect of physical activity on learning and memory. Therefore according to the present results which show that stress impairs learning and memory, it is expected that physical activity will be used as an effective factor to moderate stress.
Khadije Irandoust; Morteza Taheri; Abbas Sadeghi
Abstract
In recent years, the effects of exercise on nervous system, spatial memory andmotor function in the senescence period have received the attention of researchers.As the age increases, some functions of nervous system such as spatial memory areweakened. Thus, the effect of aerobic exercises including swimming ...
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In recent years, the effects of exercise on nervous system, spatial memory andmotor function in the senescence period have received the attention of researchers.As the age increases, some functions of nervous system such as spatial memory areweakened. Thus, the effect of aerobic exercises including swimming and runningon learning, spatial memory and motor function was investigated in old rats. Thestudy was experimental. 30 rats (18 months old) were randomly divided intothree groups: experimental 1 (running on a treadmill), experimental 2 (swimmingin the water maze) and control. Rat treadmill was used for subjects' exercise,Morris water maze device was used to apply exercise protocol and to examine theirmemory and learning and open field device was used to examine subjects' motorfunction. One-way analysis of variance was used to analyze the data. The resultswere reported as mean + SD and suggested that in spatial memory test (time toreach the target and the covered distance to reach the target), Experimental 1group (swimming) significantly outperformed control and experimental 2 (running)groups (P=0.001). Treadmill group had a better performance in spatial memorytest (time to reach the target) than control group (P=0.04). In motor function test(open field test), experimental 1 and 2 groups were significantly superior to thecontrol group in the total distance covered (P=0.001, P=0.002 respectively). In themean speed covered in the open field test, Experimental 1 and 2 groups weresignificantly superior to the control group (P=0.001, P=0.003 respectively). Theresults showed that aerobic exercise especially swimming had a positive effect onmemory consolidation, retention and motor function, that is, exercise probablyimproves reward paths in the nervous system of the rats and this factor can be areason for memory consolidation and learning in the nervous system.
Ali Seghatoleslami; Mahmood Shaikh; Naser Naghdi; Elahe Arab Ameri; Nabiollah Numvar Asl
Abstract
It is important for people to improve cognitive and motor performance. The purpouse of this study was to investigate the effect of running on treadmill in spatial memory and learning and motor performance. 24 Albino-Wistar healthy male rats were randomly divided into control and activity groups. Activity ...
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It is important for people to improve cognitive and motor performance. The purpouse of this study was to investigate the effect of running on treadmill in spatial memory and learning and motor performance. 24 Albino-Wistar healthy male rats were randomly divided into control and activity groups. Activity group ran 7 days on treadmill (speed 22m/min 30 minutes a day). After the end of activity period, Morris Water Maze and open-field tests were done to respectively assess spatial learning and motor performance. It was used latency time, and distance moved to find platform to assess spatial learning, and distance moved, mobility duration, and movement speed to assess motor activity. It was used SEM±M and analyze variance (2groups*3days) and independent-t tests to analyze data.Results indicated that In spatial learning, activity group was significantly better in acquisition (distance moved F2,44=6/578 p=0/003 and latency time F2,44=10/550, p=0/000 ), probe (time spend in target quarter t22=2/534 , p=0/019), and retrieval tests (distance moved t22=2/651, p-0/015) than control group. In motor activity there was no significant difference between two groups.The results of this study show that the forced running of rats on treadmill for a week can improve learning and memory.
Nasour Ahmadi; Mohammadali Aslankhani; Naser Naghdi
Abstract
Aging has negative effects on motor and cognitive functions, so it is essential to identify appropriate strategies to prevent the decrease of motor and cognitive functions. The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of vitamin E supplement on motor activity and spatial learning in aged rats. ...
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Aging has negative effects on motor and cognitive functions, so it is essential to identify appropriate strategies to prevent the decrease of motor and cognitive functions. The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of vitamin E supplement on motor activity and spatial learning in aged rats. 36 male Albino – Wistar aged rats were assigned to three groups of control, vitamin E and sham. E group received daily 100 mg (50 IU) of vitamin E per kg of body weight with 0.5 ml sesame oil via gavage during 8 weeks. Sham group received daily 0.5 ml sesame oil, but control group did not receive any treatment. After the end of the protocol, open – field and Morris water maze tests were used to respectively assess motor functions and spatial learning. Distance moved and movement speed was used to assess motor function and latency and distance moved to the find platform was used to assess spatial learning. Results showed that in motor function, there was no statistically significant difference among groups in distance moved and movement speed factors (P>0.05). In addition, there was no statistically significant difference among groups in all factors of spatial learning and memory (P>0.05). The results showed that vitamin E did not significantly influence motor and cognitive functions of aged rats. Vitamin E supplement appears not to be efficient in the aging period when antioxidant damages caused irreversible memory destruction.