Journal of Sports and Motor Development and Learning

Abstract Introduction: Sports activities can protect the brain and improve its function. However, the lack of time is one of the primary reasons for not participating in the recommended amount of sports activities. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of sprint interval training (SIT) on hippocampal nerve growth factor (NGF) levels, learning, and spatial memory in adult male rats.
Methods: For this, 16 male Wistar rats were divided into two equal groups (control and SIT). The SIT protocol consisted of eight weeks of running on the treadmill (three sessions per week, 4-9 repetitions of 10 seconds sprints, and 1 min rest between repetitions). At the end of the eighth week, the rats’ cognitive performance was evaluated using the shuttle box and Y-maze avoidance tests. Finally, rats were anesthetized and the hippocampus was removed and NGF levels were measured.
Results: The findings showed that in the SIT group, the hippocampal NGF levels were significantly higher than the control group (p=0.001). Moreover, rats in the SIT group had better performance in the shuttle box and Y-maze avoidance tests than the control group, but the difference between groups was not statistically significant (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, it seems that SIT (with 10 seconds repetitions) can increase the hippocampal NGF levels, though, to improve our knowledge about its effect on cognitive performance, more studies are needed

Abstract  
The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of the number of training sessions in a week on psychological factors and memory of sedentary elderly. For this purpose, 45 sedentary male elderly (mean age, 73.15±6.54 years; height, 166.5±3.10 cm; weight, 64.45±4.06 kg; body mass index (BMI), 23.49±1.51 kg/m²) were voluntarily selected and divided into two training groups and one control group with their own desire. The 8-week training program in two-session group consisted of running with intensity of 40-55% of maximum heart rate for 2 sessions a week. Subjects in four-session group used a training program with similar intensity of two-session group for 4 sessions a week. Depression, anxiety, happiness and memory status were measured using the Beck Depression, Beck Anxiety, Oxford Happiness and Wechsler Memory tests. Data were analyzed using paired t test and one-way ANOVA (P<0.05). The results showed a significant improvement in psychological factors and memory in experimental groups compared with the control group (P<0.05). Subjects who had practiced four sessions a week showed more improvement in depression, anxiety, happiness and some memory factors. Generally, both training programs had useful adaptation and increased number of training sessions has more influence in the improvement of psychological factors and memory in the elderly.

Abstract There are evidences in both animal and human studies which show that exercise has beneficial effects on the central nervous system and cognition. So, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of resistance exercise on memory and probable mechanisms of this effect (i.e. neurotrophic factors) in sedentary students. 30 sedentary students (mean age, 23.8±1.6 yr) were randomly divided into two groups: control and resistance. After blood sampling and memory test, they continued their exercises for 5 weeks based on the resistance training protocol. In the end, at least 48 hours after the last training session, the memory test and blood samples were collected in order to eliminate the temporary effects of exercises. For analysis of the data, Covariance test and Pearson correlation coefficient were used (P≥0.05). Results showed that resistance exercises significantly increased memory score (P<0.05). Although BDNF significantly increased after the exercises, the exercises did not influence the expression of any neurotrophic factors (P˂0.05). Furthermore, there was no significant correlation between variations of memory scores and variations of expression of neurotrophic factors (P˂0.05). The findings indicated that exercise can improve memory.  

Abstract The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of physical activity on
memory and dynamic balance of elder people. Subjects (n=15) were selected as
volunteers. The intervention was performed in an eighteen session period, three
times a week (each session, 45 minutes). Yoga training was performed for mental
relaxation. Wexler test was performed for memory evaluation. Seat up test was
used to test the dynamic balance. The results suggested that water-based exercises
and Yoga protocol have had a positive significant effect on memory (p=0.03) and
dynamic balance. It was concluded that a selected physical activity program,
especially water-based exercises has less potential for making people injured.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of two regimes during rats' gestation and lactation on learning, memory and motor function of their offspring. For this purpose, female rats (Albino-Wistar) were obtained from Pasteur Institute, Iran. After mating, 12 pregnant rats were divided into three groups and they had their special regimes during their last week of pregnancy as well as their lactation. Control group used a standard diet, the zinc deficient (ZnD) group a diet deficient in zinc and the zinc supplement (ZnS) group a standard diet and enhanced zinc (10ppm) in their drinking water. 12 male offspring in each group were selected as the statistical sample and they were tested for learning and memory in MWM on their 56th natal day (ND) and were tested for motor activity in open-field on their 66th natal day. One-way ANOVA, post hoc Tukey test and repeated measures ANOVA were used to analyze the data (P<0.05). These findings showed that zinc deficiency during the last week of pregnancy and during lactation impaired learning and memory of their offspring and had also a negative effect on motor function. In addition, zinc supplement had a significant effect on learning and memory but no effect on motor function of their offspring.