Comparison of Discrete Cardiovascular Fitness Groups on Plasma Catecholamine and Selected Behavioral Responses to Psychological Stress

Abstract

ABSTRACT Discrete cardiovascular fitness groups consisting of high‐fit (n=10) and low‐fit (n=9) men performed a well‐learned vigilance task and their self‐report, performance, and plasma catecholamine responses were compared. No significant differences were observed between the fitness groups on self‐report or psychomotor performance responses to the vigilance task. However, the low‐fit group took significantly longer than high‐fit subjects to complete the first of three sets of anagrams administered immediately after the vigilance task. Plasma norepinephrine but not epinephrine response was greater in the low‐fit group compared to their high‐fit counterparts. The findings indicate that enhanced cardiovascular fitness may be characterized by an attenuated plasma norepinephrine response to a vigilance task with sustained cognitive performance subsequent to the task.