Acute Neurochemical and Cognitive Changes After HIIT vs MICT/LICT (ANCCR)

Aksaray University Training and Research Hospital

Status: Completed

Conditions: Lactate; Cognitive Performance; Exercise Intensity; BDNF

Treatments: Behavioral: Low Intensity Exercise; Behavioral: Moderate-Intensity Continuous Exercise; Behavioral: High-Intensity Interval Training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07379879

185-8/10

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study examines whether the intensity of a single running session changes a blood marker related to brain health (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF), blood lactate, and performance on a short thinking task that measures attention and self-control (the Stroop test) in healthy young adult men.

Twelve healthy males (18-25 years) will complete four separate sessions in a randomized, counterbalanced order, with at least 7 days between sessions. Each session includes an 8-minute warm-up followed by 24 minutes of one of the following conditions: low-intensity continuous running, moderate-intensity continuous running, high-intensity interval running (repeated 15-second fast runs with 15-second passive rest, organized into sets), or a seated rest control session. Running pace will be individualized based on a prior fitness test.

A small venous blood sample (about 8 mL) will be collected immediately before and within 1 minute after each session. After each session, participants will complete the Stroop test. The main outcomes are the before-to-after changes in serum BDNF, blood lactate, and Stroop test performance across the four conditions.

Enrollment: 12 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 18 to 25 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Aged between 18 and 25 years
• No known medical condition that prevents participation in exercise
• Not currently using any pharmacological agents

Exclusion criteria

• Experiencing any discomfort before, during, or after exercise
• Current or past diagnosis of pharmacological or doping substance use
• Engaging in regular exercise (more than 3 times per week) within the last 2 weeks
• History of alcohol or substance addiction
• Any other condition or factor that may prevent full participation in the study protocol

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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12 participants in 4 patient groups

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants remained seated quietly at rest for 24 minutes in a quiet, well-lit room, matched to the exercise sessions for time schedule and environmental conditions. No physical activity was performed during this period.

Low-intensity continuous training

Experimental group

Description:

They were asked to perform low intensity exercise for the specified time, determined according to their maximal oxygen consumption capacity.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Low Intensity Exercise

Moderate-intensity continuous training

Experimental group

Description:

They were asked to perform moderate intensity exercise for the specified time, determined according to their maximal oxygen consumption capacity.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Moderate-Intensity Continuous Exercise

High-intensity interval training

Experimental group

Description:

They were asked to perform HIIT exercise for the specified time, determined according to their maximal oxygen consumption capacity.

Treatment:

Behavioral: High-Intensity Interval Training