Acute Effects of High Intensity Interval Exercise on Executive Function

The experimental protocol will be performed in three groups. Two of the three groups (HIT1 and HIT2) will counterbalance one another, meaning these participants will each receive the same level of treatment, but the treatments will occur in different sequence. The third group will serve as the control (CON). All qualified subjects will complete a consent form after receiving a detailed explanation of the experimental purpose and procedure by the investigator. Subjects qualify to participate in this study based upon the results of the preliminary health history record, ACSM risk assessment, and a 7-day activity recall form IPAQ. Following consent, participants will be randomized into one of three groups and will be scheduled three(3) lab sessions. A Subject Tracking Form will be used to monitor the progress of each subject.

All three groups begin the study with the same session protocol, constituting Day 1 (Baseline). This session will include baseline measurements of perceived effort (RPE), perceived pain (RPP), and affect (FS). These measures will be taken before and after the maximal oxygen uptake test scheduled on this day. Two single 15 mL blood samples (~1 tablespoon) will be drawn for baseline pH and lactate quantification. Blood draws (BD) are repeated for a total of 8 times throughout the study for a total of 120 mL of blood. During the two experimental sessions (Session 2 and Session 3) blood will be drawn 3 times each; prior to HIT or seated rest, immediately following HIT or seated rest, and following the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST). The seventh and eight blood draws will occur during baseline, immediately before and after the maximal oxygen uptake exercise test. Each group will participate in all 8 blood draws. A demonstration of the WCST and a review of the Tabata high-intensity interval training protocol (HIT) will also be given during this session. Session 1 includes a cardiovascular fitness assessment (relative VO2 test) and body fat assessment (Bioelectrical Impedence Analysis, or BIA).

The following two sessions, Day 3 (Session 2) and Day 17 (Session 3), will be different for each group. The first group, (HIT1), will complete a warm-up, HIT, and the WCST during Session 2. The next session, Session 3, will be scheduled no less than 14 days from Session 2 and includes a warm-up, a 5-minute stationary period, and the WCST. The second group, (HIT2), will complete the same protocols as HIT1, but will complete Session 2 and Session 3 in reverse order. The control group (CON) will not perform the warm-up or the HIT exercise before either WCST. This group will still have 14-days separating WCST attempts. A follow-up by email will be used to report the results of the WCST scores to each participant once all subjects have completed the study in its entirety. Instructions on how to receive compensation for participating in the study will also be provided in the follow-up.

Data will be analyzed using the current version of SPSS Statistics. A 2 (HIT, no HIT) x 3 (pre-, immediately post-, and delayed post- HIT) repeated measures ANOVA will be used to determine the affects of HIT on biophysiological functions (La, H+, RPP, RPE, and FS). A paired t-test will show changes in executive function due to HIT. A Pearson correlation will determine the influence of biophysiological factors on cognitive function and a 3 (HIT1, HIT2, CON) x 2 (time of WCST) mixed-model ANOVA will demonstrate the learning effects associated with the WCST over a 14-day period.

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy male college students
• Ages of 18-35 years old
• Body fat percent < 25%

Exclusion criteria

• Moderate to high risk for cardiovascular disease
• Reporting any known physical or psychological diseases or disorders
• Participating in certain prescription and/or illegal drug use
• Smoking
• Body fat percent > 25%
• Those having undergone any surgery, serious injury, or hospitalization within the past five years
• Those having experienced a major life event (eg divorce, family death) in the past five years