PMID 34063304

Research
All papers

The Effects of the Combination of High-Intensity Interval Training with 3D-Multiple Object Tracking Task on Perceptual-Cognitive Performance: A Randomized Controlled Intervention Trial

Park SY, Klotzbier TJ, Schott N

Question

Does combining HIIT with a 3D multiple-object tracking task improve perceptual-cognitive performance during exercise more than HIIT alone, cognitive-task practice alone, or no intervention?

Summary

In healthy young adults, four weeks of treadmill HIIT improved aerobic fitness, but it did not by itself improve performance on a 3D visual tracking task. Gains on the visual tracking task came from practicing that task, with or without HIIT, so this paper is better for internal protocol context than for broad claims that HIIT improves cognition.

Methodology

  • Healthy young adults recruited through a university sports center
  • 42 participants.
  • Treadmill running.
  • Work intervals: 30 seconds.
  • Recovery: 2 minutes active recovery.
  • Intensity: 90% VO2max work, 50% VO2max recovery.
  • About 30 minutes plus warm-up and cool-down.
  • 2 times/week.
  • 4 weeks.
  • Four-group randomized controlled intervention trial
  • Neurotracker performance, and VO2max were tracked.

Outcomes

VO2max

Aerobic fitness improved only in the HIIT and HIIT plus Neurotracker groups.

Time-by-group interaction F(3,36)=6.04, p=0.002, eta_p2=0.335

Improved

Tracking task

Task performance improved in Neurotracker-practice groups but not in HIIT-only or control.

Pre/post by group interaction F(3,37)=8.37, p<0.001

Mixed

HIIT transfer

HIIT alone did not improve the specific perceptual-cognitive task.

No clear change

Insights

  • For app content, keep cognition claims narrow: task practice improved the task; HIIT alone did not.
  • For workout generation, this provides a lab-based 30-second work and 2-minute recovery running template for fit users.
  • The long recovery interval is notable for maintaining very high work-bout intensity.

Limitations

  • Small sample
  • Young fit participants
  • Short 4-week intervention
  • Neurotracker was both training and assessment task
  • No transfer task or long-term follow-up

Safety

  • No adverse event detail was found in the reviewed full text.
  • Protocol used high-intensity treadmill running in healthy young adults.