title: Working memory and blood lactate levels.
abstract: The accumulation of lactate in the blood after a high-intensity exercise is associated with an increase of lactate extractions by the brain. Previously, a negative influence of blood lactate on attentional processes has been observed. The present study was carried out to examine the association of high blood lactate levels, induced with a maximal cycling, with another cognitive domain: working memory. For evaluation of working memory two different protocols were used: the first (Self-Ordered Pointing Task) capable of analyzing non-spatial working memory requiring the ability to generate and monitor a sequence of responses and the second for evaluating motor working memory necessary to perform a motor task. The study was carried out in 30 students (15 males and 15 females) who performed exhaustive exercise. In each subject, blood lactate was measured and motor as well as non-motor forms of working memory were evaluated before the exercise, at its end as well as 15 min after the exhaustion. It was observed that an increase of blood lactate levels is associated with a worsening of both types of working memory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sciences of Formation, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Perciavalle
authors.affiliation: Department "G.F. Ingrassia", Area of Neurosciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maci
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy. perciava@unict.it.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Perciavalle
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Massimino
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Marinella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coco
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid
keywords: Blood lactate; Man; Maximal exercise; Working memory