Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40608068›Full record

Trial reportEuropean journal of applied physiology2026

Acute effects of two different combined exercise modalities on executive function and circulating neurotrophic factors in young healthy adults.

Yi-Hung Liao, Toby Mündel, Ying-Chu Chen, Shiow-Chwen Tsai, Kuo-Cheng Wu, Mu-Tsung Chen, Li-Chen Lee, Chih-Peng Su, Yu-Kai Chang, Chung-Yu Chen

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in European journal of applied physiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Yi-Hung LiaoDepartment of Exercise and Health Science, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei City, Taiwan.
Toby MündelDepartment of Kinesiology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada.
Ying-Chu ChenDepartment of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei City, Taiwan.
Shiow-Chwen TsaiInstitute of Sports Sciences, University of Taipei, Taipei City, Taiwan.
Kuo-Cheng WuGraduate Institute of Sports Training, University of Taipei, Taipei City, Taiwan.
Mu-Tsung ChenOffice of Physical Education, Shih Chien University, Taipei City, Taiwan.
Li-Chen LeeDepartment of Physical Education, Shih Hsin University, Taipei City, Taiwan.
Chih-Peng SuDepartment of Sports Performing Arts, University of Taipei, Taipei City, Taiwan.
Yu-Kai ChangDepartment of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei City, Taiwan.
Chung-Yu ChenDepartment of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Taipei, No.101, Sec. 2, Zhongcheng Rd., Shilin Dist., Taipei City, 111, Taiwan. fish0510@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1798-7027

Funding

National Science and Technology Council MOST 110-2410-H-845-021-MY2.
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposesThis study investigated the effects of two different combined exercise modalities on executive function in healthy adults and observed the associations of potential biomarkers (i.e., brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF; human growth hormone, HGH; insulin-like growth factor-1, IGF-1; and cortisol) on cognitive performance.

methodsTwelve young healthy male adults were recruited and assigned to the following three experimental interventions in a randomized crossover manner: sitting control (SC), resistance exercise plus continuous aerobic exercise (RA) and resistance exercise plus intermittent aerobic exercise (RI). Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT) and blood collection were conducted before and immediately after each intervention.

resultsThe results showed that both acute combined exercise trials significantly reduced SCWT-incongruent response time compared to the SC trial (RA: p = .015, RI: p = .014). The serum BDNF and HGH levels were significantly increased in both RA (BDNF: p < .0001, HGH: p = .004) and RI (BDNF: p = .013, HGH: p = .007) trials, and the serum IGF-1 level was significantly increased in the RI trial (p = .008). The changes in SCWT-incongruent response time were significantly associated with the changes in blood lactate (r = - 0.622, p < .0001) and RPE (r = - 0.364, p = .029) following the interventions.

conclusionOur findings indicate the beneficial effects of two different combined exercise modalities on executive function in these young healthy males that could be related to an increase in brain energy supply and arousal status. IRB REGISTRATION NUMBER: IRB-2021-011.

Indexed as

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic FactorExecutive FunctionExerciseResistance TrainingAdultBiomarkersCross-Over StudiesHuman Growth HormoneHumansHydrocortisoneInsulin-Like Growth Factor IMaleYoung AdultBDNF protein, humanBiomarkersBrain-Derived Neurotrophic FactorHuman Growth HormoneHydrocortisoneIGF1 protein, humanInsulin-Like Growth Factor IAerobic exerciseBlood lactateCognitionConcurrent exerciseNeurotrophinsResistance exercise

Identifiers

PMID40608068

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.