Review of High-Intensity Interval Training for Cognitive and Mental Health in Youth

Abstract

Purpose High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has emerged as a time-efficient strategy to improve children’s and adolescents’ health-related fitness in comparison to traditional training methods. However, little is known regarding the effects on cognitive function and mental health. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effect of HIIT on cognitive function (basic information processing, executive function) and mental health (well-being, ill-being) outcomes for children and adolescents. Methods A systematic search was conducted, and studies were eligible if they 1) included a HIIT protocol, 2) examined cognitive function or mental health outcomes, and 3) examined children or adolescents (5–18 yr). Separate meta-analyses were conducted for acute and chronic studies, with potential moderators (i.e., study duration, risk of bias, participant age, cognitive demand, and study population) also explored. Results A total of 22 studies were included in the review. In acute studies, small to moderate effects were found for executive function (standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.50, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.03–0.98; P = 0.038) and affect (SMD, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.05–0.62; P = 0.020), respectively. For chronic studies, small significant effects were found for executive function (SMD, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.15–0.76, P < 0.001), well-being (SMD, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.02–0.41; P = 0.029), and ill-being (SMD, −0.35; 95% CI, −0.68 to −0.03; P = 0.035). Conclusions Our review provides preliminary review evidence suggesting that participation in HIIT can improve cognitive function and mental health in children and adolescents. Because of the small number of studies and large heterogeneity, more high-quality research is needed to confirm these findings.

Process Evaluation of a School-Based High-Intensity Interval Training Program for Older Adolescents: The Burn 2 Learn Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial

“…Teachers were also provided with information surrounding the benefits of HIIT training [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 38 ]. Knowledge of the benefits of HIIT, along with continued program delivery as the intervention proceeded, may have had bearing on teachers’ beliefs surrounding the appropriateness of the program within the school context.…”

“…High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a time-efficient mode of activity, that consists of short, highly vigorous bouts of activity (e.g., >85% of maximal heart rate (HR)) interspersed with rest or light activity [ 29 ]. Numerous systematic reviews have demonstrated the potential for HIIT to improve adolescents’ physical (e.g., CRF, waist circumference), mental (i.e., well- and ill-being) and cognitive (e.g., attention, memory, executive function) health [ 30 , 31 , 32 ]. In addition to these health benefits, the interval nature of HIIT is also preferred by adolescents, compared with continuous activity (independent of intensity) [ 33 ].…”

The effect of a one-year vigorous physical activity intervention on fitness, cognitive performance and mental health in young adolescents: the Fit to Study cluster randomised controlled trial

“…While interventions involving working at or near the maximum intensity (e.g. > 90% VO 2 peak, or max heart rate) may be limited in their scalability and effectiveness [39], there is some promising evidence from less intense HIIT interventions showing improvements in executive functions [44][45][46][47][48][49] and mental well-being [45,49,50]. However, most of these interventions were brief (6-14 weeks), relatively well-controlled with small samples (1-6 schools), and did not investigate academic outcomes.…”

High-Intensity Interval Training upon Cognitive and Psychological Outcomes in Youth: A Systematic Review

“…Regarding cognitive function, different strategies could be considered to improve this capacity, such as applying a HIIT intervention for six weeks with five sessions/week [ 49 ]; applying a HIIT program (i.e., the intensity of 90% HRmax) involving one session/week for 12 weeks [ 50 ]; or even implementing a HIIT protocol (e.g., aerobic and core exercise, (≥85% HRmax) for four weeks with three sessions/week working at 8–10 min [ 23 ]. However, to obtain higher effects in memory, it seems to be pertinent to apply a HIIT protocol ≥ 8 weeks long [ 51 ]. HIIT could be accepted as a time-efficient method (involving short period of time, 30 s exercises at >85% HRmax intensity combined with recovery breaks of 30 s, with no equipment required), being able to provide significant positive effects on healthy children and adolescents’ cognitive performance and psychological outcomes.…”