Effects of high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training on the functioning of attentional networks and heart rate variability in healthy young adults

Figures

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  Fig. 1. Experimental design. Flow-chart of the study design (A). Timeline of the experimental protocol (B). Wpeak: peak power output; HIIT: high-intensity interval training; MICT: moderate-intensity continuous training; CON: rest; HRV: heart rate variability; W-up: warm up; C-d: cool down; ANT-I: Attention Network Test for Interactions.

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  Fig. 2. Experimental procedure of the ANT-I. RT: reaction time. FP: fixation period.

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  Fig. 3. RT as influenced by exercise and cue type for tone (A) and no tone (B) condition. A decrease in RT reflects improved reaction time performance. HIIT: high-intensity interval training; MICT: moderate-intensity continuous training; CON: rest; RT: reaction time. ∗: p < 0.05, ∗∗: p < 0.01. Error bars represent standard deviation (SD).

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  Fig. 4. RT as influenced by exercise and flanker type for tone (A) and no tone (B) condition. A decrease in RT reflects improved reaction time performance. HIIT: high-intensity interval training; MICT: moderate-intensity continuous training; CON: rest; RT: reaction time. ∗: p < 0.05, ∗∗: p < 0.01, ∗∗∗: p < 0.001. Error bars represent standard deviation (SD).

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  Fig. 5. Results of different intervention sessions on functioning of each attentional network. Higher scores indicate better alerting and orienting functions but reduced executive control function. HIIT: high-intensity interval training; MICT: moderate-intensity continuous training; CON: rest. ∗: p < 0.05, ∗∗: p < 0.01. Error bars represent standard deviation (SD).

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  Fig. 6. Results of different intervention sessions on changes in LnRMSSD (A), and HF (B) immediate after intervention and during ANT-I. A larger decrease in LnRMSSD and LnHF reflects a greater reduction in parasympathetic activity. The HIIT: high-intensity interval training; MICT: moderate-intensity continuous training; CON: rest; Ln: log-transformed; RMSSD: root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats; LF: low frequency; HF: high frequency; post-1: immediate after intervention; post-2: in ANT-I; ∗: p < 0.05, ∗∗∗: p < 0.001. Error bars represent standard deviation (SD).

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  Fig. 7. The correlation between alerting function and changes in immediate (A) and task-related (B) LnRMSSD, as well as the correlation between executive control function and changes in immediate (C) and task-related (D) LnRMSSD after HIIT. EC: executive control function; LnRMSSD: log-transformed root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats.