Abstract

The study aims to analyze the acute effect of a Cross-Training benchmark on executive functions and physiological parameters according to performance. Thirty-two practitioners were divided according to their performance, Elite group (n=7; age: 28.9 }4.7 years; practice: 50.0 }13.3 months), Advanced group (n=10; age: 33.4 }4.6 years; practice: 27.6 }13.8 months) and Beginner group (n=15; age: 30.6 }7.1 years; practice: 22.9 }9.2 months). This research compares the groups and the pre-WOD and post-WOD moments for physiological (heart rate, lactate concentration, diastolic and systolic blood pressure) and neuropsychological variables (executive function); correlations between the physiological and neuropsychological effects of the benchmark. The results showed a significant difference concerning the performance of the WOD time (Elite: 177.1' }29.8' s and the difference in executive functions regarding the comparison between moments: reading (Elite:76.4 }20.2 percentiles), counting (Elite: 86.4 }10.7 percentiles), choice (Elite: 89.3 }9.8 percentiles), shifting (Advanced: 91.0 }8.4 percentiles), inhibition (Advanced:76.5 }12.5 percentiles), flexibility (Advanced: 93.0 }6.3 percentiles), lactate (Elite:13.1 }1.8 mmol/L), heart rate (Elite: 188.0 }6.6 bpm), systolic blood pressure (Elite: 149.7 }11.5 mmHg), and diastolic blood pressure (Elite: 73.4 }6.2 mmHg). Our findings confirm that high-intensity exercise could influence the physiological mechanisms responsible for the intervention in cognitive performance, improving executive functions.