Diverse effects of prolonged physical training on learning of the delayed non-matching to sample by rats

The physiological effects of physical exercise have been extensively studied. Nevertheless, its influence on cognitive functioning remains a matter of controversy. In this study we have attempted to assess the effects of repeated exercise (6 weeks of daily treadmill running, meant to resemble human physical training), on parallel learning of a complex task [delayed non matching to sample (DNMS)] by rats. The trained rats appeared to learn the procedure slower and made a significantly lower percentage of correct choices (P<0.01) as compared to those in the non-trained control group. However, when only those rats, from both the groups, which reached the criterion of 80% correct choices in two consecutive sessions were compared, no significant differences were observed. These results suggest an adverse influence of long term physical exercise on rats' ability to learn complex tasks, but only by the 'poor performers'. The 'good performers' were insensitive to the deleterious effects of the exercise.