Abstract
Exercise duration may influence the acute effects on cognition. However, only one study to date has explored the dose-response relationship between exercise duration and cognition in adolescents. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of differing durations of high-intensity intermittent running on cognition in adolescents. Thirty-eight adolescents (23 girls) completed three trials separated by 7 d: 30 min exercise, 60 min exercise, and rest; in a randomised crossover design. The exercise was a modified version of the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test (LIST), which elicited high-intensity intermittent exercise. Cognitive function tests (Stroop test, Sternberg paradigm, Flanker task) were completed 30 min pre, immediately post, and 45 min post exercise. Response times on the incongruent level of the Flanker task improved to a greater extent 45 min following the 30 min LIST, compared to rest (p = 0.009). Moreover, response times improved to a greater extent on the three-item level of Sternberg paradigm 45 min following the 30 min LIST, compared to the 60 min LIST (p = 0.002) and rest (p = 0.013), as well as on the five-item level 45 min following the 30 min LIST, compared to the 60 min LIST (p = 0.002). In conclusion, acute exercise enhanced subsequent cognition in adolescents, but overall, 30 min of high-intensity intermittent running is more favourable to adolescents’ cognition, compared to 60 min.
Highlights
The existing evidence suggests that an acute bout of exercise can improve subsequent cognitive function across a range of domains in young people, including attentional capacity [1], executive function [2], and working memory [3]
There was a tendency for response times to improve to a greater extent immediately post exercise on the 30 min Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test (LIST) trial, compared to the resting control trial, but this did not reach statistical significance (trial × time interaction, t(6544) = 1.90, p = 0.058; Figure 3)
The present study found that found that cognitive function was enhanced following high-intensity intermittent exercise cognitive function was enhanced following high-intensity intermittent exercise regardless regardless duration when compared to following of durationofwhen compared to following resting. resting
Summary
The existing evidence suggests that an acute bout of exercise can improve subsequent cognitive function across a range of domains in young people, including attentional capacity [1], executive function [2], and working memory [3]. These cognitive processes are responsible for self-regulation and goal-orientated behaviours [4] and are fundamental to learning [5]. High-intensity intermittent exercise is enjoyable to youth [15], which is a important consideration when looking to develop ecologically valid forms of physical activity with the aim of achieving long-term, sustained behaviour change [13]. One of the few exercise-cognition studies to use high-intensity intermittent exercise in adolescents found that both working memory and executive function were
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