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This study evaluated the effects of aerobic exercise on cognitive function, sleep, and emotional states in healthy adults through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Literature published within the past 5 years was retrieved from five databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Elsevier ScienceDirect, CNKI, and VIP. A total of 19 randomized controlled trials were included. The results showed that acute aerobic exercise significantly enhanced positive mood (SMD = 1.56) and reduced negative mood (SMD = −0.46), but did not yield significant improvements in cognitive performance. In contrast, long-term aerobic exercise effectively alleviated negative mood (SMD = −0.58), whereas its effects on positive mood, cognitive function, and sleep quality were not statistically significant. These findings suggest that acute exercise may serve as an effective strategy for rapid emotional regulation, while regular long-term exercise contributes beneficially to emotional well-being. However, the potential benefits of aerobic exercise on cognition and sleep warrant further investigation through more standardized and high-quality studies. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261383739 , CRD420261383739.
Wang et al. (Fri,) studied this question.