Effects of acute HIIE combined with meditation on cognitive function among sedentary college students: An fNIRS study.
Benke Xu, Yaocong Yang, Zijie Huang, Jiahao Li, Guoxiao Sun
Behavioural Brain Research January 5, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2025.115843 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 51 |
| Population | Sedentary Chinese college students (mean age 20.24 ± 2.19 years) |
| Interventions | High-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) Meditation |
| Duration | Acute (single session) |
| Measures | Stroop test, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Fnirs Hiie Sedentary college students |
| Key findings | Both acute HIIE combined with meditation and acute HIIE alone significantly improved cognitive performance in sedentary college students, with HIIE alone showing the larger effect (η² = 0.437 vs. 0.140). Combining HIIE with meditation enhanced left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activation during the Stroop task, whereas HIIE alone increased activation in both that region and the right frontopolar area. |
Abstract
Prolonged sedentary behavior is prevalent among Chinese college students. As representatives of the younger demographic, college students face a multitude of academic, social, and personal challenges, underscoring the need for effective strategies to enhance their cognitive function. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of acute high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) combined with meditation on the cognitive performance of sedentary college students. A total of 51 sedentary college students (mean age: 20.24 ± 2.19 years) participated in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a group performing HIIE combined with meditation, a group performing only HIIE, and a control group. To examine the effects of acute HIIE with and without meditation, as well as a control condition, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to measure changes in cortical hemodynamics (i.e., oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin) during an executive functioning task (Stroop test). Both acute HIIE combined with meditation [F = 7.783, p = 0.008, η² = 0.140] and acute HIIE alone [F = 37.231, p < 0.001, η² = 0.437] significantly improved cognitive performance in sedentary college students. During the Stroop task, the activation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (L-DLPFC) was significantly enhanced when combining HIIE with meditation. However, following HIIE alone, a higher activation of both the L-DLPFC and right frontopolar area (R-FPA) was observed. Both the combined intervention (HIIE and meditation) and HIIE alone had positive effects on cognitive performance in sedentary college students. In the short term, HIIE alone demonstrated a greater impact on cognitive enhancement.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cites 11
- Mindfulness Meditation Training and Executive Control Network Resting State Functional Connectivity: A Randomized Controlled Trial Psychosomatic Medicine March 22, 2017
- Mental and physical training with meditation and aerobic exercise improved mental health and well-being in teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic Frontiers in Human Neuroscience August 23, 2022
- Brief mindfulness meditation intervention improves attentional control of athletes in virtual reality shooting competition: Evidence from fNIRS and eye tracking. Psychology of Sport And Exercise November 2023
- Meditation as an Adjunct to the Management of Acute Pain. Current Pain and Headache Reports June 7, 2023
- The Effect of Yoga Meditation Practice on Young Adults’ Inhibitory Control: An fNIRS Study Frontiers in Human Neuroscience September 13, 2021
and 6 more in the library