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Effect of creatine supplementation and sleep deprivation, with mild exercise, on cognitive and psychomotor performance, mood state, and plasma concentrations of catecholamines and cortisol

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Abstract

Rationale

Sleep deprivation has a negative effect on cognitive and psychomotor performance and mood state, partially due to decreases in creatine levels in the brain. Therefore, creatine supplementation should lessen the negative effects of sleep deprivation.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of creatine supplementation and sleep deprivation, with mild exercise, on cognitive and psychomotor performance, mood state, and plasma concentrations of catecholamines and cortisol.

Method

Subjects were divided into a creatine group (n=10) and a placebo group (n=9). They took 5 g of creatine monohydrate or a placebo, dependent on their group, four times a time a day for 7 days, immediately prior to the experiment. The study was double blind. Subjects undertook tests of random movement generation (RMG), verbal and spatial recall, choice reaction time, static balance and mood state pre-test (0 h), after 6, 12 and 24 h of sleep deprivation, with intermittent exercise. They were tested for plasma concentrations of catecholamines and cortisol at 0 and 24 h.

Results

At 24 h, the creatine group demonstrated significantly less change in performance from 0 h (Δ) in RMG, choice reaction time, balance and mood state. There were no significant differences between groups in plasma concentrations of catecholamines and cortisol. Norepinephrine and dopamine concentrations were significantly higher at 24 h than 0 h, but cortisol were lower.

Conclusions

Following 24-h sleep deprivation, creatine supplementation had a positive effect on mood state and tasks that place a heavy stress on the prefrontal cortex.

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Acknowledgement

This research was funded by the Howard Foundation of Cambridge, to whom the authors are very grateful.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Sports Science and Medicine, University College Chichester, College Lane, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 6PE, UK

    T. McMorris, R. C. Harris, J. Swain, J. Corbett & R. J. Dyson

  2. School of Health Professions, University of Plymouth, Millbrook House, Topsham Road, Exeter, EX2 6ES, UK

    K. Collard

  3. Institute of Psychological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK

    L. Dye

  4. Centre for Research in Adventure Science, University College Chichester, College Lane, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 6PE, UK

    C. Hodgson & N. Draper

Authors
  1. T. McMorris
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  2. R. C. Harris
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  3. J. Swain
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  4. J. Corbett
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  5. K. Collard
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  6. R. J. Dyson
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  7. L. Dye
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  8. C. Hodgson
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  9. N. Draper
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. McMorris.

Appendix

Appendix

Appendix A

A.1 Cycle 1
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Appendix B

B.1 Cycle 2
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Appendix C

C.1 Cycle 3
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Appendix D

D.1 Cycle 4
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McMorris, T., Harris, R.C., Swain, J. et al. Effect of creatine supplementation and sleep deprivation, with mild exercise, on cognitive and psychomotor performance, mood state, and plasma concentrations of catecholamines and cortisol. Psychopharmacology 185, 93–103 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-005-0269-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-005-0269-z

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