“This report was provided by the research team of Chair Professor Yu-Kai Chang from the Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences.”
ORIGINAL ARTICLE：研究發展處研究亮點
原始連結：https://rh.acad.ntnu.edu.tw/tw/article/content/231 (2023-09-09)
(English Version Powered by ChatGPT, Edited by Serena H.)
The slogan “Exercise is Medicine”, promoted by the American College of Sports Medicine, has become increasingly well-known. In fact, the benefits of fitness training go beyond physical and psychological health—they also play a key role in cognitive function and overall brain health. According to the 2018 U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines Scientific Report, individuals of all ages and cognitive conditions can gain cognitive benefits from regular physical activity. Remarkably, even a single bout of exercise—referred to as acute exercise—has been shown to yield immediate effects. While the idea of “instant results” is appealing, how exactly should such exercise be carried out?
To address this question, our research team focused on resistance training and conducted a systematic literature review to explore how different intensities of resistance exercise influence executive functions, a key domain of higher-order cognitive ability, in hopes of providing practical guidance for real-world application.
Executive functions are high-level cognitive processes that are essential for daily life. They influence academic performance, career success, social relationships, and are key indicators of healthy aging. These core functions include:
- Inhibitory Control: The ability to resist distractions or impulses and make appropriate decisions.
- Working Memory: The capacity to temporarily hold and manipulate information for goal-directed tasks.
- Cognitive Flexibility: The ability to adapt one’s thinking or strategies in response to changing circumstances or rules.
Past studies have identified resistance training as a beneficial form of exercise for improving executive functions, even after just a single session. However, the relationship between exercise intensity and its effects on various aspects of executive functioning remains unclear.
To investigate, our review synthesized evidence from 19 studies involving 692 participants. We examined the cognitive impact of low-, moderate-, and high-intensity single sessions of resistance exercise on the three major components of executive function: inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility.
Key Findings
- More than half of the studies showed that a single session of resistance training positively influenced overall executive function.
- Moderate intensity interventions produced more consistent positive effects compared to low or high intensity.
- Among the three cognitive domains, inhibitory control showed the most consistent benefit. The effects on working memory and cognitive flexibility were more mixed.
Based on the interaction between exercise intensity and executive function type, the following practical recommendations are proposed:
- For inhibitory control: Low to moderate intensity is beneficial.
- For working memory and cognitive flexibility: Moderate intensity is preferable.
While previous research has laid the groundwork for understanding the cognitive effects of acute exercise, scholars are now delving deeper into how participant characteristics and specific exercise parameters influence these outcomes. This systematic review focuses on the unique role of resistance training and affirms its cognitive benefits—particularly when tailored to match the desired executive function outcomes and exercise intensity.
These insights may serve as a practical reference for exercise professionals aiming to develop brain health–focused training programs. Continued research will further enrich this field and support the development of more refined exercise prescriptions for cognitive well-being.
ORIGINAL SOURCE：Huang, T. Y., Chen, F. T., Li, R. H., Hillman, C. H., Cline, T. L., Chu, C. H., Hung, T. M., & Chang, Y. K. (2022). Effects of acute resistance exercise on executive function: A systematic review of the moderating role of intensity and executive function domain. Sports Medicine – Open, 8(1), 141. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-022-00527-7
About the Researcher
Prof. Yu-Kai Chang
Chair Professor, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU)
Vice Chair, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences
Director, Cognitive Neuroscience of Physical Activity Lab
Prof. Chang currently serves as Treasurer of the International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP), Vice President of the Asian-South Pacific Association of Sport Psychology, Vice President of the Taiwan Society of Sport Science. He is also recognized as one of the world’s top 2% scientists since 2021, Prof. Chang has received multiple awards, including:
- Wu Ta-You Memorial Award (2012)
- Outstanding Research Award from Taiwan’s Ministry of Science and Technology (2018)
- Early Career Awards from ISSP, NASPSPA, and the Chinese Association of Sport Psychology
- UNC’s Best Dissertation Award
His research focuses on fitness and sport psychology, especially the use of cognitive neuroscience to explore exercise, mental health, performance psychology, and mindfulness. He is Co-Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology (SSCI) and Editor-in-Chief of Taiwanese Journal of Sports Science (TSSCI).
He is also trained in traditional martial arts (Bagua, Xingyi, Taichi, Shaolin) and serves as a consultant for the Bagua Dao-Yin Center.