Journal Article

DZNE-2026-01110

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Effects of acute cardiovascular exercise and coordinative motor activity on verbal functions and attention.

Fischer, M. (First author)DZNE* ; Kraft, V. S. ; Hermsdörfer, J.

2026
Springer Berlin

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1007/s10339-026-01380-2

Abstract: Language is a cognitive domain essential for communication; however, its responsiveness to acute physical exercise or activity is unexplored. This quasi-randomized trial examined the effects of different intervention modalities on verbal functions and attention. Ninety-eight participants were assigned to high-intensity interval training (HIIT), coordinatively demanding motor activity (COOR), or a sedentary control group (CG). A pre-post design with a 24-hour follow-up assessed semantic (VFsem) and category-switching verbal fluency (VFsw), verbal learning, and attention. No group × time effects were observed for verbal learning encoding (p = .258); however, HIIT showed a steeper learning slope compared to CG (p = .044). Following an interference list, proactive interference was unaffected (p = .428), whereas retroactive interference differed significantly between groups (p = .019), with CG showing lower susceptibility than both intervention groups. No group differences were found for consolidation after 20 min or 24 h (p's ≥ .271). Semantic verbal fluency improved significantly following HIIT relative to CG (p = .029), with no significant effects in VFsw (p = .221) or attention (p = .187). We conclude an intensity-dependent pattern following the interventions, manifesting as enhanced semantic lexical retrieval and an exploratory finding of a steeper encoding following HIIT, compared to CG, with COOR in between, accompanied by an increased susceptibility to retroactive interference.

Keyword(s): Humans (MeSH) ; Female (MeSH) ; Attention: physiology (MeSH) ; Male (MeSH) ; Verbal Learning: physiology (MeSH) ; Adult (MeSH) ; Young Adult (MeSH) ; High-Intensity Interval Training (MeSH) ; Exercise: physiology (MeSH) ; Motor Activity: physiology (MeSH) ; Verbal Behavior: physiology (MeSH) ; Acute exercise ; Cognition ; Exercise modality ; Language ; Memory ; Verbal functions

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. München common (München common)

Research Program(s):

1. 899 - ohne Topic (POF4-899) (POF4-899)

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Database coverage:
; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Clinical Medicine ; Current Contents - Social and Behavioral Sciences ; DEAL Springer ; DEAL Springer ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Social Sciences Citation Index

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