Background and Aims: Research in the field of acute sports activity and executive functions has attracted the attention of many researchers and it shows the importance of this issue that acute sports activity leads to positive changes in executive function. However, few studies have directly compared the effect of these two training methods on executive functions. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of a session of aerobic and Interval resistance training on working memory and response inhibition of young girls.
Method: The research was semi-experimental with a pre-test and post-test design. The statistical population included all female students of Yazd University. The research sample was 16 female students in the age range of 25 to 30 years, who were selected as available and participated in the way of counterbalancing in interval aerobic exercise sessions (with intensity of 75-85% and recovery period with intensity of 45-55% of reserve heart rate) and Interval resistance exercise (with an intensity of 85-95% of 1RM and a recovery period with an intensity of 40-50% of 1RM) separately. The subjects were evaluated before and after a session of training using N-back test to measure working memory and Stroop test to measure response inhibition. The data were analyzed using the statistical test of Analysis of variance with repeated measurements and Bonferroni's post hoc test.
Results: The results showed that there is a significant difference between the correct answer score and the interference score time of interval in aerobic and resistance exercises compared to the control conditions (P<0.05); However, no significant difference was observed between different exercise groups (P=0.497).
Conclusion: The results showed that a session of interval resistance and aerobic exercises has an effect on working memory and response inhibition. Therefore, it is recommended for physical educator to use interval resistance and aerobic exercises to improve working memory and response inhibition.