The effects of running and meditation on beta-endorphin, corticotropin-releasing hormone and cortisol in plasma, and on mood

The relations between three hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis, beta-endorphin (β-EP), corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and cortisol, and mood change were examined in 11 elite runners and 12 highly trained meditators matched in age, sex, and personality. Despite me...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological psychology 1995-06, Vol.40 (3), p.251-265
Main Authors: Harte, Jane L., Eifert, Georg H., Smith, Roger
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Affect - physiology
Arousal - physiology
Behavioral psychophysiology
Beta-endorphin
beta-Endorphin - blood
Biological and medical sciences
Corticotropin-releasing hormone
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - blood
Cortisol
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Heart Rate - physiology
Hormones and behavior
Humans
Hydrocortisone - blood
Male
Mood change
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Reference Values
Running - physiology
Running - psychology
Yoga - psychology
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Summary:The relations between three hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis, beta-endorphin (β-EP), corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and cortisol, and mood change were examined in 11 elite runners and 12 highly trained meditators matched in age, sex, and personality. Despite metabolic differences between running and meditation, we predicted that mood change after these activities would be similar when associated with similar hormonal change. Compared to pre-test and control values, mood was elevated after both activities but not significantly different between the two groups at post-test. There were significant elevations of β-EP and CRH after running and of CRH after meditation, but no significant differences in CRH increases between groups. CRH was correlated with positive mood changes after running and meditation. Cortisol levels were generally high but erratic in both groups. We conclude that positive affect is associated with plasma CRH immunoreactivity which itself is significantly associated with circulating β-EP supporting a role for CRH in the release of β-EP. Increased CRH immunoreactivity following meditation indicates, however, that physical exercise is not an essential requirement for CRH release.
ISSN:0301-0511
1873-6246
DOI:10.1016/0301-0511(95)05118-T