Effects of Acute Exercise on Cognitive Flexibility in Young Adults with Different Levels of Aerobic Fitness

Beibei Shi, Hong Mou, Shudong Tian, Fanying Meng and Fanghui Qiu
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Beibei Shi: Department of Physical Education, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
Hong Mou: Department of Physical Education, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
Shudong Tian: Department of Physical Education, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
Fanying Meng: Institute of Physical Education, Huzhou University, Huzhou 313000, China
Fanghui Qiu: Department of Physical Education, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-12

Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) and moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE) on cognitive flexibility in young adults with differing levels of aerobic fitness. Sixty-six young adults were grouped into high- and low-fit groups based on their final running distance on the 20 m Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) test. Individuals participated in a 10 min HIIE, a 20 min HIIE, a 20 min MICE, and a control session (reading quietly in a chair) in a counterbalanced order. The more-odd shifting task was completed before and approximately 5 min after each intervention to assess cognitive flexibility. The results showed that young adults with a high fitness level gained greater benefits in terms of switch cost from the 20 min HIIE, while low-fitness participants benefited more from the 10 min HIIE and the 20 min MICE. These findings suggest that aerobic fitness may influence the effect of acute HIIE and MICE on cognitive flexibility. Young adults should consider individual fitness level when adopting time-effective and appropriate exercise routines to improve cognitive flexibility.

Keywords: HIIE; MICE; cognitive flexibility; aerobic fitness; more-odd shifting task (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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