Greater impact of acute high-intensity interval exercise on post-exercise executive function compared to
Hayato Tsukamoto1, Tadashi Suga2, Saki Takenaka2
1Graduate School of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Shiga, Japan; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan.
Physiology & Behavior
|January 3, 2016
Summary
High-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) and moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MCE) both improve executive function (EF). However, HIIE offers sustained EF benefits during post-exercise recovery, unlike MCE.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Sports Science
Background:
- Aerobic moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MCE) acutely enhances executive function (EF).
- High-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) shows superior physical adaptation benefits compared to MCE.
- The impact of HIIE on EF, particularly during recovery, is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effects of HIIE and MCE on immediate post-exercise EF.
- To investigate the duration of EF improvements during post-exercise recovery for both HIIE and MCE.
- To determine if HIIE offers a more prolonged enhancement of EF compared to MCE.
Main Methods:
- Twelve healthy males participated in a randomized, counterbalanced study.
- Subjects underwent either HIIE (four 4-min bouts at 90% peak VO2 with 3-min recovery) or volume-matched MCE (60% peak VO2) on a cycle ergometer.
- Executive function was assessed using a color-words Stroop task pre- and post-exercise, with follow-up during a 30-min recovery period.
Main Results:
- Both HIIE and MCE protocols resulted in comparable immediate improvements in EF post-exercise.
- EF improvements were sustained for 30 minutes post-exercise following HIIE.
- EF levels returned to baseline within 30 minutes post-exercise after MCE.
- EF recovery patterns correlated with physiological and psychological responses.
Conclusions:
- Both HIIE and MCE effectively improve executive function.
- HIIE demonstrates a prolonged positive effect on EF during the post-exercise recovery phase compared to MCE.
- HIIE may represent a more effective strategy than MCE for enhancing and sustaining executive function.
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