PMID 37763250

Research
All papers

Effects of Acute Long- versus Short-Interval High-Intensity Interval Training on Attention and Psychological States in a Sample of Male and Female Adolescents: A Pilot Study

Slimani M, Issaoui M, Znazen H, Hammami A, Bragazzi NL

Question

Do acute short-interval and long-interval running HIIT sessions differ in their effects on visual attention, perceived exertion, and mood in adolescents?

Summary

This randomized crossover pilot study tested one short-interval running HIIT session, one long-interval running HIIT session, and one seated reading control condition in 15 secondary school students. Both HIIT sessions improved visual attention compared with control, and the short-interval session produced the best concentration performance and fewest errors. Short intervals also produced less fatigue and more vigor than long intervals, while perceived exertion was similarly higher after both HIIT sessions than control.

Methodology

  • Fifteen secondary school students, 9 male and 6 female, mean age 16.2 years, physically active twice weekly.
  • 15 participants.
  • Outdoor running.
  • Work intervals: 2 sets of 5 x 30 seconds at 110% MAS.
  • Recovery: 30 seconds passive recovery between repetitions; 2 minutes active recovery at 40% MAS between sets.
  • Intensity: 110% maximal aerobic speed.
  • Approximately 32 minutes including 10-minute warm-up and 10-minute cool-down.
  • Single acute condition.
  • One session.
  • Randomized crossover acute exercise study comparing SIHIIT, LIHIIT, and seated control, with 72-hour washouts.
  • Concentration performance, Total count of errors, Perceived exertion, and Mood state were tracked.

Outcomes

Concentration performance

Both HIIT sessions improved concentration versus control, with SIHIIT better than LIHIIT.

Time x intervention F(1,42) = 66.79, p < 0.001, ES = 0.76; SIHIIT vs LIHIIT p = 0.043.

Improved

Total errors

Errors were lower after HIIT than control and lower after SIHIIT than LIHIIT.

Interaction F(1,42) = 89.74, p < 0.001, ES = 0.81; LIHIIT vs SIHIIT p = 0.03.

Improved

RPE

RPE was higher after both HIIT sessions than control, without a significant difference between HIIT protocols.

HIIT vs control both p < 0.001; LIHIIT vs SIHIIT p = 0.24.

Mixed

Mood

LIHIIT caused more fatigue; SIHIIT had higher vigor than LIHIIT and control; other BRUMS subscales were not significantly different.

Fatigue p < 0.001; LIHIIT vs SIHIIT p = 0.03. Vigor p < 0.001; SIHIIT vs LIHIIT p = 0.04 and vs control p < 0.001.

Mixed

Insights

  • Short 30-second running intervals may be better than 120-second intervals before visual-attention tasks.
  • RPE alone may miss mood differences: LIHIIT and SIHIIT had similar RPE but different fatigue and vigor.
  • Acute cognitive claims should be limited to immediate post-exercise effects.

Limitations

  • Pilot sample of 15.
  • Underpowered for sex-specific analysis.
  • Only immediate effects tested.
  • Healthy active adolescents only.
  • No physiological intensity verification beyond MAS prescription and RPE.

Safety

  • No adverse events were reported in the extracted article text.
  • Sessions included 72-hour washouts, warm-up, and cool-down.