Dose-Dependent Impact of Ashwagandha on Executive Function and Attention in Resistance-Trained Athletes

BACKGROUND: Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera; ASH) has gained attention for its potential to enhance cognitive performance, mental focus, and stress resilience. Through its influence on neuroendocrine regulation and oxidative balance, ASH may support attention, memory, and executive function during high-intensity exercise.METHODS: Twenty-three resistance-trained adults (9 males and 14 females) participated in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study examining the dose-response effects of short-term ASH supplementation on cognitive function. Participants completed three 7-day conditions in a counterbalanced order: low-dose ASH (LDA, 4 mg/kg/day), high-dose ASH (HDA, 14 mg/kg/day), and placebo (PL), separated by 7-day washout periods. Following supplementation, cognitive performance was assessed using the Stroop Color-Word Test, and visual analog scales (VAS) for readiness, focus, and alertness. Testing was conducted 45 minutes post-ingestion. Data were analyzed using two-way repeated-measures ANOVA with Fisher’s LSD post hoc tests (p ≤ 0.05).RESULTS: Participants completed the Stroop Word–Color test and VAS during the CON and after each treatment phase. In the Word domain, there was a significant treatment effect (p < 0.001), with higher mean scores across PL, LDA, and HDA compared with CON (CON: 102.2 ± 12.7; PL: 111.5 ± 14.1; LDA: 115.7 ± 13.4; HDA: 117.6 ± 16.2 counts). In the Color domain, scores also differed significantly across conditions (p ≤ 0.001), with the highest mean observed following LDA (CON: 76.2 ± 12.3; PL: 79.5 ± 10.0; LDA: 83.9 ± 10.9; HDA: 81.9 ± 10.6 counts). In the Word–Color domain, a significant treatment effect was observed (p = 0.001), with progressive increases from CON through HDA (CON: 94.4 ± 16.9; PL: 101.0 ± 16.6; LDA: 104.1 ± 15.1; HDA: 106.7 ± 17.9 counts). When all Stroop domains were combined, total performance differed significantly across treatments (p < 0.001), with the greatest overall mean following HDA (CON: 272.8 ± 37.8; PL: 292.0 ± 34.7; LDA: 303.7 ± 33.7; HDA: 306.1 ± 40.4 counts). No significant differences were detected among treatments for VAS measures of readiness, focus, or alertness (all p > 0.05), and no significant treatment-by-gender interactions were observed.CONCLUSION: Ashwagandha supplementation significantly improved cognitive performance in resistance-trained adults, as evidenced by improved Stroop test performance. These findings suggest that ASH may support attention, focus, and executive function, particularly at higher doses. However, no significant changes were observed in VAS measures of readiness and alertness, indicating that cognitive benefits may be independent of subjective perceptions. This abstract was presented at the American Physiology Summit 2026 and is only available in HTML format. There is no downloadable file or PDF version. The Physiology editorial board was not involved in the peer review process.