Motivation and Neurotransmitters in Rowers

Psychobiological Correlates of Achievement Motivation and Neurotransmitter Responses to Exercise in Elite Rowers

The goal of this observational study is to learn how motivation and body chemistry are linked during and after intense exercise in national-level rowers.

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

Do athletes with higher motivation show different changes in brain chemicals after exercise? How do hormone and neurotransmitter levels change during recovery after exercise?

Participants will:

Complete a motivation questionnaire called the Inventory of Achievement Motivation (LMI) before the exercise test.

Perform a 6000-meter rowing test on an indoor rowing machine. Have blood samples taken three times: before exercise, immediately after exercise, and 1 hour after exercise.

Researchers will measure blood levels of testosterone, cortisol, serotonin, dopamine, beta-endorphin, anandamide (AEA), and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG).

This study will help researchers understand how motivation and body chemistry work together to influence performance and recovery in highly trained athletes.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: 6000-meter rowing ergometer test

Detailed Description

This study explores how motivation and body chemistry are connected during and after intense physical exercise in national-level rowers. Researchers want to understand how psychological factors, such as motivation to achieve goals, relate to changes in hormones and brain chemicals that occur with exercise and recovery.

Before the exercise test, participants will complete a motivation questionnaire called the Inventory of Achievement Motivation (LMI). This questionnaire helps identify how strongly a person is driven to perform, overcome challenges, and reach success.

After the questionnaire, each participant will complete a 6000-meter rowing test on an indoor rowing machine. This test is designed to produce a high level of physical effort similar to competition conditions. Blood samples will be taken three times: before the test, immediately after the test, and one hour after recovery.

The blood samples will be used to measure levels of several hormones and neurotransmitters, including testosterone, cortisol, serotonin, dopamine, beta-endorphin, anandamide (AEA), and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). These substances are involved in stress response, motivation, reward, and recovery.

Researchers will compare the results from the motivation questionnaire with changes in hormone and neurotransmitter levels. The goal is to find out whether more motivated athletes show different chemical responses to exercise and recovery.

Findings from this study may improve understanding of how the mind and body interact during intense training. This knowledge could help athletes and coaches develop better ways to support motivation, performance, and recovery in high-level sports.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 24

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Poland
  • Greater Poland Voivodeship
    • Poznan, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, 61-871
      • Poznan University of Physical Education

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

All participants were recruited and tested at the Central Sports Centre - Olympic Preparation Center (COS OPO) in Wałcz, Poland, during a national team training camp under standardized conditions.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

National-level male rowers Age between 18 and 35 years Minimum of 3 years of systematic rowing training Regular training load (at least 10 sessions per week during the competitive season) Good general health and medical clearance for maximal exercise testing

Exclusion Criteria:

Current illness, injury, or infection Use of medications or dietary supplements that could affect hormone or neurotransmitter levels Smoking or use of psychoactive substances Inadequate sleep or food intake before testing Refusal or inability to provide informed consent

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Rowers; The study includes 24 national-level male rowers. All participants are healthy, highly trained athletes with at least 3 years of systematic rowing experience and regular intensive training.	Other: 6000-meter rowing ergometer test; Participants perform a 6000-meter rowing test on an indoor ergometer at maximal effort to simulate race conditions and induce physiological fatigue.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in serum Cortisol levels	Measurement of Cortisol serum concentrations (ng/mL).	Before exercise, immediately after, and 1 hour after recovery
Changes in serum Testosterone levels	Measurement of Testosterone serum concentrations (ng/mL).	Before exercise, immediately after, and 1 hour after recovery
Changes in serum Dopamin levels	Measurement of Dopamin serum concentrations (ng/mL).	Before exercise, immediately after, and 1 hour after recovery
Changes in serum Serotonin levels	Measurement of Serotonin serum concentrations (ng/mL).	Before exercise, immediately after, and 1 hour after recovery
Changes in serum Beta-endorphin levels	Measurement of Beta-endorphin serum concentrations (ng/mL).	Before exercise, immediately after, and 1 hour after recovery
Changes in serum anandamide (AEA) levels	Measurement of anandamide (AEA) serum concentrations (ng/mL).	Before exercise, immediately after, and 1 hour after recovery
Changes in serum 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG)) levels	Measurement of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) serum concentrations (ng/mL).	Before exercise, immediately after, and 1 hour after recovery

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in Testosterone-to-cortisol ratio (T:C)	Ratio calculated from serum testosterone and cortisol concentrations (ng/mL), used as an indicator of anabolic-catabolic balance.	Before exercise, immediately after, and 1 hour after recovery
Changes in TSerotonin-to-dopamine ratio (S:D)	Ratio of serum serotonin to dopamine concentrations (ng/mL), reflecting neurochemical balance related to motivation and fatigue.	Before exercise, immediately after, and 1 hour after recovery
Achievement Motivation (LMI score)	Assessment of achievement motivation using the Inventory of Achievement Motivation (LMI). The questionnaire evaluates multiple dimensions of motivation, such as persistence, confidence in success, goal setting, and compensatory effort. Total and subscale scores are analyzed to identify individual motivational profiles.	Before exercise (baseline)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Poznan University of Physical Education

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 28, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): December 2, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 14, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 14, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): November 19, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 19, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 14, 2025
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Recovery; Fatigue; Neurotransmitters; Elite athletes; Achievement motivation
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Fatigue
• Other Study ID Numbers: LMI60002023

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared. Data will be used only for internal analysis and dissemination in scientific publications in aggregate form, in accordance with ethical approval.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No