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Acute Effects of Exercise on Risk-Taking: Different Responses in Males and Females
Cynthia J Thomson1, Michael Gaetz1, Michael Rastad1
1University of the Fraser Valley.
Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport
|October 8, 2020
Summary
Acute exercise impacts risk-taking differently in males and females. Moderate to vigorous physical activity led to increased risk-seeking in males and risk-aversion in females, as measured by the Balloon-Analogue Risk Task.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Exercise Physiology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Growing interest in exercise's cognitive effects.
- Limited research on physical activity's influence on risk-taking behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how acute moderate to vigorous exercise affects risky decision-making.
- To investigate sex-based differences in exercise-induced changes in risk-taking.
Main Methods:
- 20 healthy, recreationally active adults (50% female) participated in a randomized crossover design.
- Participants completed a 30-min cycling exercise or watched a neutral film.
- Behavioral tasks (Balloon-Analogue Risk Task, Risky Gains Task, STOP-IT) and cortisol measurements were used.
Main Results:
- A significant sex-by-condition interaction was observed in risk-taking behavior (Balloon-Analogue Risk Task explosions).
- Females showed reduced risk-taking (fewer balloon explosions) post-exercise.
- Males exhibited increased risk-seeking, while females showed risk-aversion post-exercise, with significant sex differences in cortisol response.
Conclusions:
- Acute exercise has differential effects on risk-taking behavior in males and females.
- Exercise promotes risk-seeking in males and risk-aversion in females, as evidenced by Balloon-Analogue Risk Task performance.
- Cortisol levels increased post-exercise, with sex-specific modulations in risk-taking outcomes.
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