The Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training with and Without Caloric Restriction on Spatial Learning and Long-Term Memory of Obese Rats

Abstract

Background: Increasing fat mass in the body reduces long-term memory (LTM) and spatial learning (SL). Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with and without caloric restriction (CR) on SL and LTM of obese rats. Methods: Forty male Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks. After confirmation of obesity, they were divided into four groups of 10 subjects, including (1) training (T), (2) training + caloric restriction (T+CR), (3) CR, and (4) obese control (OC). Also, to assess the effect of obesity on the research variables, 10 rats were considered the standard control (SC) group. For 8 weeks, the rats in groups 1 and 2 performed HIIT three times per week at an intensity of 80% to 95% of Vo2max, and groups 2 and 3 received CR of 60%.