ABSTRACT
With a global prevalence rate of around 6", attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is considered to be the most common neurodevelopmental disorder affecting children. From a neuroendocrinological perspective, ADHD-related deficits of higher-order cognitive function might also be attributed to disturbances of catecholamine neurotransmission. Based on a summary of findings from experimental studies, ADHD is characterized by a dysfunction of both the dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems, leading to a hypocatecholaminergic state within the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Targeting the neuroendocrinologic response to exercise, Gapin, Labban, Bohall, Wooten, and Chang investigated the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which has an influence on plasticity of synapses and neurons, for exercise-induced benefits for cognitive control. Based on the arousal–performance interaction theory, exercise intensity is suggested to influence cognitive performance in healthy samples in an inverted-U effect. Similar to cognitive performance, cerebral blood flow and oxygenation are increased at moderate intensity and decrease when the load becomes more demanding.
