title: Immunoendocrine alterations following Marine Corps Martial Arts training are associated with changes in moral cognitive processes.
abstract: Combined physical and psychological stress events have been associated with exacerbated endocrine responses and increased alterations in immune cell trafficking when compared to exercise stress alone. Military training programs are rigorous in nature and often purposefully delivered in environments combining high levels of both physical and mental stress. The objective of this study was to assess physiological and cognitive changes following U.S. Marine Corps Martial Arts training. Seven active-duty, male Marines were observed during a typical Marine Corps Martial Arts training session. Immune parameters, including immunomodulatory cytokines, and hormone concentrations were determined from blood samples obtained at baseline, immediately post training (IP) and at 15min intervals post-training to 1h (R15, R30, R45, R60). Assessments of cognitive moral functioning (moral judgment and intent) were recorded at intervals during recovery. There were significant fluctuations in immunoendocrine parameters. Peak endocrine measures were observed within the IP-R15 time interval. Distributions of circulating immune cells were significantly altered with neutrophils and all lymphocyte subsets elevated at IP. IFN-γ and IL-17a exhibited small, non-significant, parallel increases over the recovery period. Moral functioning was informed by different social identities during the recovery resulting in changes in moral decision-making. These data demonstrate that the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program induces significant alterations in lymphocyte and leukocyte distributions, but does not shift the balance of Th1/Th2 cytokines or induce a systemic inflammatory response. The program does, however, induce alterations in moral decision-making ability associated with the observed endocrine responses, even suggesting a potential interaction between one's social identities and endocrine responses upon moral decision-making.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Sport, and Exercise Science, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States.
authors.forename: Jacob A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Siedlik
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Sport, and Exercise Science, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States.
authors.forename: Jake A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Deckert
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Sport, and Exercise Science, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States.
authors.forename: Aaron W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Clopton
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Hospitals & Clinics, Kansas City, MO, United States.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gigliotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Hospitals & Clinics, Kansas City, MO, United States.
authors.forename: Marcia A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States.
authors.forename: Stephen H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Benedict
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Sport, and Exercise Science, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States.
authors.forename: Trent J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Herda
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Sport, and Exercise Science, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States. Electronic address: philku@ku.edu.
authors.forename: Philip M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vardiman
mesh_terms: D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D016139:Martial Arts / Q000502:physiology*; D008889:Military Personnel; D009013:Morale; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood*; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D009638:Norepinephrine
keywords: Cytokines; Lymphocyte; Marine Corps; Moral cognition