The Effect of Aerobic Fitness on Psychological, Attentional and Physiological Responses during a Tabata High-Intensity Interval Training Session in Healthy Young Women

Abstract

The current study examines the effects of a Tabata high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session on affective, cognitive and physiological indicators in women of different fitness levels. A total of 28 adult women (aged 24.2 ± 1.5 years) completed a 20 m shuttle run test and were then assigned to higher fitness and lower fitness groups (HF and LF, n = 14 each) according to their predicted aerobic power. On a separate occasion, participants completed a 30 min Tabata workout (six 4 min rounds separated by 1 min passive rest). Each round included eight exercises (20 s exercise and 10 s rest). Affective, physiological and cognitive responses were assessed prior to, during and after the protocol. Heart rate and blood lactate concentration increased similarly in both groups over time throughout the workout (p < 0.001). Total Mood Disturbance was higher for LF (111.4 ± 15.7) vs. HF (102.9 ± 11.7) (p = 0.48), vigor showed a level by time interaction of p = 0.006 and Activation−Deactivation Adjective Check List factors deteriorated over time (p < 0.001). The Concentration Grid Test was better overall for HF (10.5 ± 3.6) vs. LF (8.6 ± 3.6) (p = 0.05). The Feeling Scale and Rating of Perceived Exertion worsened similarly in both groups over time (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively). Positive and negative affect and arousal did not differ between groups or change over time (p > 0.05). These results show that, despite the different levels of aerobic fitness, physiological, metabolic, perceptual and affective responses were similar in the two groups of women during a 30 min Tabata session. This may imply that affective responses during this type of HIIT are independent of aerobic fitness.

Keywords: HIIT; high-intensity interval training; psychological responses; psychophysiological approach.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1

Schematic representation of the main experimental protocol. POMS: Profile of Mood States, PANAS: Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, ADACL: Activation–Deactivation Adjective Check List, FS: Feeling Scale, FAS: Felt Arousal Scale, RPE: Rating of Perceived Exertion, CGT: Concentration Grid Test, LA: Blood lactate concentration, HR¯: mean heart rate.

Figure 2

Mean heart rate (HR), standard deviations, and changes expressed as a percentage of peak HR (HRpeak) for the HF and LF groups in each of the six rounds of the protocol (*** p < 0.001 between Tabata rounds).

Figure 3

Means, standard deviations and changes in blood lactate concentration in response to HIIT protocol for the high fitness and low fitness groups in pre-test, mid-test and post-test measures (*** p < 0.001).

Figure 4

Means, standard deviations and changes in perceived exertion in response to HIIT protocol for high fitness and the low fitness groups before and after the Tabata protocol and during the resting periods separating each round (rest 1 to 6). (** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 between assessed time points).

Figure 5

Means, standard deviations and changes in affective valence in response to HIIT for the high fitness and low fitness groups before and after the Tabata protocol and during the resting periods separating each round (rest 1 to 6). (* p < 0.05 between rest 4 and rest 5; *** p < 0.001 between pre–test and rest 6).

Figure 6

Means, standard deviations and changes in concentration in response to HIIT protocol for the high fitness and the low fitness groups in pre–test, mid–test and post–test measures (* p < 0.05 between levels).