Our results corroborate those of other studies of depressive subjects that have found improvements in attention and inhibitory control and no change in working memory.19 The improvements in attention and inhibitory control immedi- ately after and 15 minutes after exercise can be associated with activated brain areas such as the anterior cingulate, which present impaired activation in depressive subjects.
Moreover, exercise may promote the activation of the reticular formation that is responsible for the modulation of attention and arousal. Bartholomew et al.30 have shown that acute exercise can improve the mood of depressed indivi- duals in addition to yielding cognitive improvement. Studies with young and elderly healthy subjects have observed that cognitive function is immediately improved after physical exercise.16,19 This effect appears to occur only when aerobic exercise is applied.16 The improvement in cognition and mood after exercise in depressive and healthy subjects has been attributed to the acute release of neurotransmitters.31
However, recent data have confirmed that acute exercise also increases the levels of neurotrophic factors, such as BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor).32 Higher levels of BDNF immediately after exercise may enhance neurogenesis, neuronal plasticity, learning abilities, memory, and mood.33