Abstract
High-intensity exercise has been theoretically proposed to enhance hippocampal-dependent cognition and impair prefrontal cortex (PFC)-dependent cognition immediately following exercise. However, empirical evidence has been inconsistent in supporting these effects. PURPOSE: This study aimed to reconcile discrepancies between theoretical predictions and empirical findings by exploring the effects of acute high-intensity exercise on different types of cognition. It also examined the potential role of psychological factors, including motivation, perceived energy availability, and perceived energy cost, in the exercise-cognition relationship. METHODS: Fifty-five healthy young adults (mean age = 20.4 years + 1.8) participated in a within-subject experiment involving five visits. The first visit included a maximal treadmill exercise test to determine participants’ maximal heart rate and endurance capacity. The maximum heart rate data obtained during this visit were used to calculate the target exercise intensity for the high-intensity condition using the heart rate reserve formula. Visits 2–5 occurred in a random order and involved a 20-minute session of high-intensity exercise or standing (rest) on a treadmill, followed by tasks assessing hippocampal- or PFC-dependent cognition. Immediate and delayed cognitive assessments were conducted via n-back (PFC-dependent) and mnemonic similarity tasks (hippocampal-dependent), with a 20-minute delay between the initial and subsequent assessments. Psychological factors were measured using seven self-reported questions after the exercise/rest condition and before initial cognitive testing. For the PFC-dependent task, a 2 (Condition: EX vs. Rest) × 2 (Time: 1st vs. 2nd Assessment) × 2 (nBack: 2 vs. 3) repeated measures ANOVA was employed, with proportion accuracy as the outcome. For the hippocampal-dependent task, a 2 (Condition: EX vs. Rest) × 2 (Time: 1st vs. 2nd Assessment) repeated measures ANOVA was conducted, with separate analyses for item recognition and behavioral pattern separation. Psychological factors influencing cognition were evaluated using paired t-tests and regression analyses. RESULTS: For the n-back tasks, there were no significant main effects or interactions for Condition, Time, or their combinations (all ps > .05), except for a main effect of nBack, F(1,54) = 62.172, p < .001, n2p= .535. For item recognition and behavioral pattern separation, there were no significant main effects or interactions (all ps > .05). While participants reported higher mental energy levels after exercise compared to rest, t(54) = 2.41, p = .02, this increase did not correspond to changes in cognitive outcomes (all ps > .05). CONCLUSION: These findings challenge theoretical predictions and highlight the need for further exploration of psychological mechanisms through which acute exercise may influence cognition.
Recommended Citation
Jung, Myungjin; Loprinzi, Paul Dinneen; and Patrick, Zakary
(2025)
"The Associations Between Acute High-Intensity Exercise, Perceived Energy Levels, and Cognition,"
International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2:
Iss.
17, Article 6.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss17/6
