Acute Effects of High-intensity Functional Circuit Training on Cognitive Function: a Randomised, Controlled Trial

Exercise has been shown to acutely improve cognitive function (CF). However, it is unknown as to how high-intensity functional circuit training (HIFCT) affects CF. This study aims to compare the acute effects of one HIFCT bout against an inactive control condition as well as against one bout of conventional aerobic exercise.

Healthy participants will be randomly allocated to either a HIFCT group, an aerobic exercise group (walking) or an inactive control group. In the HIFCT group, participants perform a 15-minute workout, which is composed of functional exercise mimicking activities of daily living (e.g. squat, step-ups) and conducted in a circuit format. Each exercise is performed at all-out intensity for 20 seconds, followed by a 10-second break. Thus, the 15-min workout consists of 30 exercise intervals.

In the control group, participants will be inactively seated for 15 minutes, reading sports brochures and literature.

In the walking group, participants will walk at moderate intensity on a treadmill for 15 minutes.

Outcomes assessed pre and post-workout include the stroop test, trail making test, stop-signal task, heart rate, subjective arousal, rate of perceived exertion and exercise enjoyment.