Circadian rhythms, regular exercise, and cognitive performance in morning-trained dancers

Abstract

Time-of-day and individual circadian variability influence cognitive performance, with later chronotypes being most compromised earlier in the day. On the other hand, moderate-intensity exercise has been shown to enhance cognitive function. We sought to evaluate the interplay among circadian rhythms, exercise, and cognitive performance in 22 students from the Uruguayan National Dance School, a population previously characterized as late chronotypes, attending a demanding morning schedule. We assessed sleep habits and physical activity patterns using self-report questionnaires and actigraphy. Before and after morning training, participants completed a psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) and a visual Stroop task (congruent and incongruent). The reaction speeds were lower early in the morning than at noon for all these tasks. We also found (1) a positive correlation between weekend sleep duration and PVT performance before training but not after; (2) a negative correlation between individual circadian phase and Stroop performance for both congruent and incongruent conditions after training but not before; and (3) a better Stroop performance after training for both congruent and incongruent conditions in dancers who engaged longer moderate-intensity exercise during training. Our findings suggest that regular morning training might help mitigate cognitive impairments experienced by dancers with later chronotypes in challenging morning scenarios.