The Combined Effect of Acute Interval and Cognitive Training on Visual-Spatial Abilities in Women: Preliminary Insights for Health Promotion

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The Combined Effect of Acute Interval and Cognitive Training on Visual-Spatial Abilities in Women: Preliminary Insights for Health Promotion
by Christel Galvani 1,2,*ORCID,Sabrina Demarie 3ORCID,Ester Tommasini 1,2ORCID,Alessandro Antonietti 2ORCID,Thomas Zandonai 4,5ORCID andPaolo Bruseghini 1,2ORCID
1
Exercise & Sport Science Laboratory, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy
2
Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy
3
Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, 00135 Rome, Italy
4
Department of Pharmacology, Paediatrics and Organic Chemistry, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, 03550 Sant Joan Alicante, Spain
5
Addiction Science Laboratory, Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(10), 1524; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22101524
Submission received: 29 August 2025 / Revised: 25 September 2025 / Accepted: 2 October 2025 / Published: 5 October 2025
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Abstract
Different sports require elevated visual-spatial and related cognitive abilities, which are increasingly recognized as crucial not only for athletic performance but also for broader public health implications. Sex-related differences in these abilities have often been explained through both biological and sociocultural factors, with males traditionally described as having superior visual-spatial skills. However, fewer studies have investigated how targeted physical training can enhance these abilities in women. This study aimed to analyze the influence of two different cycling interval training exercises on visual-spatial ability in women. Seventy-two healthy, active, and young women engaged in (1) a High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) session followed by a cognitive training (CT); or (2) a Low-Volume Interval Training (LVIT) session followed by a CT; or (3) a cognitive (COG) session, consisting of listening to music followed by a CT; or (4) a control (CTRL) session, consisting of solely listening to music. Cognitive performance was assessed at baseline and after the training sessions using the Metzler and Shepard Test (MS), the Paper Folding and Cutting Test (PFC), and the Mental Rotation Test (MRT). No significant between-group differences were observed. However, in all groups the time to complete the PFC and MRT tests was significantly lower and the number of errors was significantly smaller for the PFC test in the post-test compared with the pre-test. These findings expand the current literature by demonstrating that interval training, whether high intensity or low volume, when combined with cognitive training, may improve certain aspects of visual-spatial cognitive performance in healthy, active, young women. These findings highlight the potential of combining structured exercise with cognitive challenges. Such interventions may promote cognitive health in women and contribute to long-term public health outcomes.