Effects of Acute Exercise on Cognitive Performance in Active Young Adults: A Randomized Trial Using Online Measures

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

• Acute exercise is known to enhance cognitive performance.
• However, the comparative effects of different maximal-effort exercise modalities are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the differential cognitive impacts of graded maximal aerobic exercise versus supramaximal exercise in active young adults.
• To compare the acute effects of these distinct exercise types on cognitive functions like reaction time and executive function.

Main Methods:

• A randomized crossover trial involving 42 physically active young adults.
• Participants completed both a graded maximal aerobic treadmill test and a 30-second supramaximal Wingate test, with a washout period in between.
• Cognitive performance was assessed using computerized reaction time and Stroop tasks immediately before and after each exercise condition.

Main Results:

• Supramaximal exercise led to significantly greater improvements in simple reaction time (12.4%) compared to graded aerobic exercise (7.2%).
• Supramaximal exercise also resulted in superior improvements in incongruent Stroop performance (12.8%) versus graded aerobic exercise (7.6%).
• No significant differences were observed for congruent trials or Stroop interference scores between the conditions.

Conclusions:

• Brief supramaximal exercise elicits greater acute cognitive benefits than prolonged graded maximal aerobic exercise in physically active young adults.
• These findings suggest that the intensity and duration characteristics of exercise significantly influence immediate cognitive enhancements, challenging the notion of aerobic exercise's universal superiority for acute cognitive gains.