Physical exercise and cognition: comparison between continuous and interval training

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34024/rnc.2023.v31.14716

Keywords:

physical exercise, Cognition, Brain

Abstract

Introduction. During the last decades, new potential effects of Physical Exercise have been discovered in relation to brain activities, however, some gaps regarding the types of training and their respective benefits for human cognition remain open. Objectives. This review aims to clarify which type of physical exercise improves cognitive performance. Method. For this purpose, a systematic review on the scientific bases of Scopus®, SciELO® and PubMed®, according to the Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS), were: Physical Exercise, High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), Moderate Intensity Continuous Training (MICT) and Cognitive Functions. Results. Among the 57 articles that met the search criteria, 15 were included: participant profile, training protocols used, type of cognitive assessment, results achieved and study limitations. Conclusion. The results show that HIIT significantly improves the cognitive performance of individuals when compared to MICT. The physiological mechanisms through which HIIT promotes cognitive improvement are still unclear, and therefore need to be explored in greater depth.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Author Biography

  • Thaís Amanda da Costa Pereira, Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade (NUPEM), Universidade Federal do Rio de janeiro (UFRJ)

     

     

     

References

Vergoossen LWM, Jansen JFA, de Jong JJA, Stehouwer CDA, Schaper NC, Savelberg HHCM, et al. Association of physical activity and sedentary time with structural brain networks—The Maastricht Study. GeroScience 2020;43:239-52. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-020-00276-z

Cavill N, Kahlmeier S, Racioppi F. Physical Activity in Europe: evidence for action. Copenhagen: Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organization; 2006. https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/87545/E89490.pdf

Caspersen CJ, Powell KE, Christenson GM. Physical activity, exercise, and physical fitness: definitions and distinctions for health-related research. Pub Health Rep 1985;100:126-31. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3920711/

Brantley EC, Benveniste EN. Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription-3: A Molecular Hub for Signaling Pathways in Gliomas. Mol Cancer Res 2008;6:675-84. https://doi.org/10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-07-2180

Brooks GA, White TP. Determination of metabolic and heart rate responses of rats to treadmill exercise. J App Physiol 1978;45:1009-15. https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1978.45.6.1009

Lana AC, Paulino CA, Gonçalves ID. Influência dos exercícios físicos de baixa e alta intensidade sobre o limiar de hipernocicepção e outros parâmetros em ratos. Rev Bras Med Esp 2006;12:248-54. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1517-86922006000500005

Tian S, Mou H, Fang Q, Zhang X, Meng F, Qiu F. Comparison of the Sustainability Effects of High-Intensity Interval Exercise and Moderate-Intensity Continuous Exercise on Cognitive Flexibility. Inter J Environ Res Pub Health 2021;18:9631. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18189631

Inoue DS, Monteiro PA, Gerosa-Neto J, Santana PR, Peres FP, Edwards KM, et al. Acute increases in brain-derived neurotrophic factor following high or moderate-intensity exercise is accompanied with better cognition performance in obese adults. Sci Rep 2020;10:13493. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-70326-1

Coetsee C, Terblanche E. The effect of three different exercise training modalities on cognitive and physical function in a healthy older population. Eur Rev Aging and Physical Activity. 2017 Aug 10;14(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s11556-017-0183-5

Mekari S, Earle M, Martins R, Drisdelle S, Killen M, Bouffard-Levasseur V, et al. Effect of High Intensity Interval Training Compared to Continuous Training on Cognitive Performance in Young Healthy Adults: A Pilot Study. Brain Sci 2020;10:81. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10020081

Constans A, Pin-Barre C, Molinari F, Temprado J-J, Brioche T, Pellegrino C, et al. High-intensity interval training is superior to moderate intensity training on aerobic capacity in rats: Impact on hippocampal plasticity markers. Behav Brain Res 2021;398:112977. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112977

Kao S-C, Wang C-H, Kamijo K, Khan N, Hillman C. Acute effects of highly intense interval and moderate continuous exercise on the modulation of neural oscillation during working memory. Inter J Psychophysiol 2021;160:10-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2020.12.003

Feter N, Spanevello RM, Soares MSP, Spohr L, Pedra NS, Bona NP, et al. How does physical activity and different models of exercise training affect oxidative parameters and memory? Physiol Behav 2019;201:42-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.12.002

Semple BD, Blomgren K, Gimlin K, Ferriero DM, Noble-Haeusslein LJ. Brain development in rodents and humans: Identifying benchmarks of maturation and vulnerability to injury across species. Prog Neurobiol 2013;106/107:1-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pneurobio.2013.04.001

Scharfman HE, MacLusky NJ. Estrogen and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in hippocampus: Complexity of steroid hormone-growth factor interactions in the adult CNS. Front Neuroendocrinol 2006;27:415-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yfrne.2006.09.004

Tsai C-L, Pan C-Y, Tseng Y-T, Chen F-C, Chang Y-C, Wang T-C. Acute effects of high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous exercise on BDNF and irisin levels and neurocognitive performance in late middle-aged and older adults. Behav Brain Res 2021;413:113472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113472

Santos A, Stork MJ, Locke SR, Jung ME. Psychological responses to HIIT and MICT over a 2-week progressive randomized trial among individuals at risk of type 2 diabetes. J Sports Sci 2020;39:170-82. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2020.1809975

Zhu Y, Sun F, Chiu MM, Siu AY-S. Effects of high-intensity interval exercise and moderate-intensity continuous exercise on executive function of healthy young males. Physiol Behav 2021;239:113505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113505

De Lima NS, De Sousa RAL, Amorim FT, Gripp F, Diniz e Magalhães CO, Henrique Pinto S, et al. Moderate-intensity continuous training and high-intensity interval training improve cognition, and BDNF levels of middle-aged overweight men. Metab Brain Dis 2022;37:463-71. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-021-00859-5

Fiorelli CM, Ciolac EG, Simieli L, Silva FA, Fernandes B, Christofoletti G, et al. Differential Acute Effect of High-Intensity Interval or Continuous Moderate Exercise on Cognition in Individuals With Parkinson’s Disease. J Phys Act Health 2019;16:157-64. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2018-0189

Li B, Liang F, Ding X, Yan Q, Zhao Y, Zhang X, et al. Interval and continuous exercise overcome memory deficits related to β- Amyloid accumulation through modulating mitochondrial dynamics. Behav Brain Res 2019;376:112171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112171

Northey JM, Pumpa KL, Quinlan C, Ikin A, Toohey K, Smee DJ, et al. Cognition in breast cancer survivors: A pilot study of interval and continuous exercise. J Sci Med Sport 2019;22:580-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2018.11.026

Santos A, Stork MJ, Locke SR, Jung ME. Psychological responses to HIIT and MICT over a 2-week progressive randomized trial among individuals at risk of type 2 diabetes. J Sports Sci 2021;39:170-82. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2020.1809975

Zotcheva E, Håberg AK, Wisløff U, Salvesen Ø, Selbæk G, Stensvold D, et al. Efects of 5 Years Aerobic Exercise on Cognition in Older Adults: The Generation 100 Study: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Sports Med 2022;52:1689-99. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-021-01608-5

Ainslie PN, Cotter JD, George KP, Lucas S, Murrell C, Shave R, et al. Elevation in cerebral blood flow velocity with aerobic fitness throughout healthy human ageing. J Physiol 2008;586:4005-10. https://doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2008.158279

Lucas SJ, Cotter JD, Brassard P, Bailey DM. High-Intensity Interval Exercise and Cerebrovascular Health: Curiosity, Cause, and Consequence. J Cerebral Blood Flow Metab 2015;35:902-11. https://doi.org/10.1038/jcbfm.2015.49

Klein T, Bailey TG, Abeln V, Schneider S, Askew CD. Cerebral Blood Flow during Interval and Continuous Exercise in Young and Old Men. Med Sci Sports Exe 2019;51:1523-31. https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0000000000001924

Whitaker AA, Alwatban M, Freemyer A, Perales-Puchalt J, Billinger SA. Effects of high intensity interval exercise on cerebrovascular function: A systematic review. Plos One 2020;15:e0241248. https://doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0241248

Kramer AF, Hahn S, Cohen NJ, Banich MT, McAuley E, Harrison CR, et al. Ageing, fitness and neurocognitive function. Nature 1999;400:418-9. https://doi.org/10.1038/22682

Saucedo Marquez CM, Vanaudenaerde B, Troosters T, Wenderoth N. High-intensity interval training evokes larger serum BDNF levels compared with intense continuous exercise. J App Physiol 2015;119:1363-73. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00126.2015

Published

2023-03-24

Issue

Section

Revisão Sistemática

How to Cite

1.
Pereira TA da C, Lino LS de M, Andrade-Moraes CH. Physical exercise and cognition: comparison between continuous and interval training . Rev Neurocienc [Internet]. 2023 Mar. 24 [cited 2025 Dec. 13];31:1-15. Available from: https://periodicos.unifesp.br/index.php/neurociencias/article/view/14716
Received 2022-12-29
Accepted 2023-02-16
Published 2023-03-24