A single 9-minute bout of high-intensity interval training improved response accuracy in tasks requiring greater inhibitory control compared to continuous aerobic exercise and seated rest.
RCT (n=64)
counterbalanced order
Does a single bout of high-intensity interval training improve inhibitory control compared to continuous aerobic exercise or seated rest in young adults?
A short, single bout of high-intensity interval training provides a time-efficient method for enhancing inhibitory control and cognitive health compared to continuous aerobic exercise.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a single bout of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and continuous aerobic exercise (CAE) on inhibitory control. The P3 component of the stimulus-locked ERP was collected in 64 young adults during a modified flanker task following 20 min of seated rest, 20 min of CAE, and 9 min of HIIT on separate days in counterbalanced order. Participants exhibited shorter overall reaction time following CAE and HIIT compared to seated rest. Response accuracy improved following HIIT in the task condition requiring greater inhibitory control compared to seated rest and CAE. P3 amplitude was larger following CAE compared to seated rest and HIIT. Decreased P3 amplitude and latency were observed following HIIT compared to seated rest. The current results replicated previous findings indicating the beneficial effect of acute CAE on behavioral and neuroelectric indices of inhibitory control. With a smaller duration and volume of exercise, a single bout of HIIT resulted in additional improvements in inhibitory control, paralleled by a smaller and more efficient P3 component. In sum, the current study demonstrated that CAE and HIIT differentially facilitate inhibitory control and its underlying neuroelectric activation, and that HIIT may be a time-efficient approach for enhancing cognitive health.
Kao et al. (Mon,) reported a rct. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) vs. 20 min of continuous aerobic exercise (CAE) and 20 min of seated rest was evaluated on inhibitory control (reaction time, response accuracy, P3 amplitude and latency). A single 9-minute bout of high-intensity interval training improved response accuracy in tasks requiring greater inhibitory control compared to continuous aerobic exercise and seated rest.