PMID 41041230

Research
All papers

Comparative study of effect of high intensity interval training and playing mobile games on reaction time in young adults using a Stroop test

Chutani A, Pande SS

Question

Does adding mobile gaming to 4 weeks of HIIT improve Stroop reaction time more than HIIT alone in young adult men?

Summary

In male medical students, 4 weeks of supervised HIIT was associated with faster Stroop test reaction times. Adding up to 3 hours per week of a mobile game did not significantly improve reaction time beyond HIIT alone.

Methodology

  • Male medical students aged 18 to 25 years
  • 60 participants.
  • Unspecified HIIT exercises plus Temple Run mobile game.
  • Work intervals: Short high-intensity bursts; exact duration not reported.
  • Recovery: Brief low-intensity activities; exact duration not reported.
  • Intensity: High intensity, not quantified.
  • 30 to 45 min.
  • 3 sessions/week.
  • 4 weeks.
  • Randomized two-group pre-post intervention study described by the authors as cross-sectional
  • Congruent Stroop time, Neutral Stroop time, and Incongruent Stroop time were tracked.

Outcomes

Congruent time

Both groups reduced congruent Stroop response time over 4 weeks.

HIIT 43.00 to 36.50; HIIT+game 42.67 to 35.47; between-group comparisons non-significant.

Improved

Neutral time

Both groups reduced neutral Stroop response time over 4 weeks.

HIIT 60.67 to 54.10; HIIT+game 59.87 to 51.73; between-group comparisons non-significant.

Improved

Incongruent time

Both groups reduced incongruent Stroop response time over 4 weeks.

HIIT 86.30 to 70.53; HIIT+game 84.83 to 68.63; between-group comparisons non-significant.

Improved

Insights

  • Cognitive outcome claims from this study should be conservative because no no-exercise control was included.
  • The HIIT protocol is too vague for direct workout design.
  • Adding Temple Run did not significantly outperform HIIT alone.

Limitations

  • No non-exercise control
  • Unclear HIIT protocol
  • No objective intensity measurement
  • Male-only medical student sample
  • Short duration
  • Practice effects possible

Safety

  • No adverse events, injuries, or dropouts were reported in the article.