PMID 40008151

Research
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A comparison of the acute effects of high intensity interval training and moderate intensity continuous training on working memory and emotional state in adolescent women with subthreshold depression

Yuan S, Lin L, Liu L, Zhang X, Gu Q

Question

How do acute HIIT, MICT, and sitting compare for working memory and emotional state in adolescent women with subthreshold depression?

Summary

Forty-nine adolescent girls with subthreshold depression completed sitting, HIIT, and moderate continuous running conditions in a randomized crossover design. HIIT increased arousal but worsened pleasure/valence and produced slower working-memory reaction time than MICT, while accuracy did not differ.

Methodology

  • Adolescent female students with subthreshold depression.
  • 49 participants.
  • Running/walking.
  • Work intervals: 2 min running at target 90% estimated HRmax.
  • Recovery: 2 min self-paced walking.
  • Intensity: Target 90% HRmax; achieved mean 79.15 +/- 7.15% HRmax.
  • 25 min.
  • Single condition.
  • Acute.
  • Randomized crossover acute exercise study
  • Working memory, Pleasure, Arousal, and Safety were tracked.

Outcomes

Accuracy

Working-memory accuracy did not differ by condition.

No condition effect or interaction.

No clear change

Reaction time

HIIT produced slower reaction time than MICT.

491.16 +/- 113.67 ms vs 459.86 +/- 106.08 ms, p=0.046.

Safety concern

Pleasure

HIIT decreased pleasure/valence while MICT improved it.

HIIT p=0.02; MICT p<0.001.

Safety concern

Arousal

HIIT and MICT increased arousal versus sitting.

HIIT>SIT p=0.011; MICT>SIT p<0.01.

Improved

Insights

  • For adolescents with subthreshold depression, moderate continuous exercise may be more affectively acceptable than HIIT.
  • Affective response should be monitored as a safety/tolerability signal.

Limitations

  • Female adolescent sample only.
  • Acute crossover study cannot infer long-term effects.
  • Baseline fitness, academic stress, and sleep were not accounted for.
  • Actual HIIT intensity averaged below the nominal 90% HRmax target.

Safety

  • No adverse events were reported.
  • HIIT acutely decreased pleasure/valence and slowed working-memory reaction time versus MICT in adolescent girls with subthreshold depression.