PMID 37781251

Research
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The effect of acute high-intensity interval training and Tabata training on inhibitory control and cortical activation in young adults

Shao X, He L, Liu Y, Fu Y

Question

What are the acute effects of cycling HIIT and whole-body Tabata training on inhibitory control performance and prefrontal cortical activation in young adults?

Summary

In healthy young adults, one acute 12-minute session of cycling HIIT or whole-body Tabata did not produce clear improvements in inhibitory-control task performance versus control. However, fNIRS showed altered prefrontal activation patterns after HIIT and Tabata. The Tabata protocol used no equipment and reached vigorous intensity, making it relevant for acute cognitive-mechanism context but not evidence for lasting fitness or cognitive benefit.

Methodology

  • Forty-two healthy right-handed normal-weight college students aged 18-22: HIIT n=14, Tabata n=15, control n=13; 21 female and 21 male overall. Participants had normal or corrected vision, no exercise-limiting disease, no neurological/psychiatric/major medical disorder, no strenuous activity or alcohol 24 h before testing, and no medication at measurement.
  • 42 participants.
  • Cycle ergometer HIIT and whole-body Tabata.
  • Work intervals: HIIT 30 sec; Tabata 20 sec.
  • Recovery: HIIT 30 sec active recovery; Tabata 10 sec rest.
  • Intensity: HIIT 80% maximal aerobic power at 90-100 rpm; Tabata 80-95% HRmax.
  • 12 min for HIIT and Tabata interventions.
  • Single acute session.
  • Randomized acute three-group experimental study
  • Stroop and Simon task reaction time and accuracy, Prefrontal oxy-Hb activation by fNIRS across DLPFC, VLPFC, and FPA regions, and Exercise HR and RPE during acute interventions were tracked.

Outcomes

Exercise intensity

Mean HR and RPE during HIIT were 168.89 +/- 9.33 bpm and 7.79 +/- 1.96; during Tabata 168.78 +/- 10.38 bpm and 8.00 +/- 1.79, consistent with vigorous intensity.

Mixed

Stroop task performance

Stroop task showed no significant condition x time x group interaction for reaction time or accuracy.

No clear change

Simon task performance

Simon task showed no significant condition x time x group interaction for reaction time or accuracy.

No clear change

Stroop-related prefrontal oxygenation

HIIT altered Stroop-related oxy-Hb responses in right DLPFC, right VLPFC, and left DLPFC.

Mixed

Simon-task prefrontal activation

Tabata increased DLPFC activation during the congruent Simon task, but not incongruent Simon activation.

Improved

Insights

  • Whole-body Tabata can be delivered without equipment and reach vigorous intensity in young adults.
  • Do not claim acute Tabata improves inhibitory-control performance based on this study; performance outcomes were null.
  • Cognitive/neural activation findings are mechanistic and should be presented cautiously.

Limitations

  • Practice effects may have occurred despite familiarization.
  • Arousal/mood was not measured.
  • fNIRS could not detect deeper regions such as ACC.
  • Young adult sample limits generalizability.
  • Only 48 h separated visits, so participants may have remained familiar with tasks.

Safety

  • No adverse events were reported in the the paper.
  • Authors stated they did not elevate participants' heart rates to near-maximal levels for safety reasons.