Acute effects of different resistance training intensities on creative thinking in university students

Physical activity has been shown to enhance creative thinking; however, existing research has primarily focused on aerobic exercise, and evidence regarding the acute effects of different resistance training intensities on creative thinking remains limited.

Using a within-subjects design, 30 university students completed resistance training sessions at 40%, 60%, and 80% one-repetition maximum (1RM). Creative performance was assessed immediately after exercise using the Alternate Uses Test (AUT), measuring fluency, flexibility, and novelty.

Exercise intensity significantly influenced all three creativity indicators. Moderate-intensity resistance training (60% 1RM) resulted in significantly greater fluency, flexibility, and novelty scores compared with both low- (40% 1RM) and high-intensity (80% 1RM) conditions.

Post-exercise creative performance differed across the three tested resistance-training intensities, with moderate loads showing the most favorable pattern. These findings suggest that, among the three tested conditions, moderate-intensity resistance training was associated with the highest post-exercise creative performance in university students.