A preceding HIIT bout enhances skill acquisition on a novel visuomotor task relative to an active control, with group differences emerging from Block 4 of practice¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · causal r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Skill improved across blocks and the Exercise Group × Block interaction superseded main effects, with HIIT exceeding controls from Block 4 onwards. → Brooks 2026

Evidence¶

Brooks 2026¶

Brooks, E., Hawi, Z., Hosler, J. et al. (2026). High-intensity cardiovascular exercise facilitates online motor skill learning, with no effect of BDNF genotype. npj Science of Learning. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-026-00432-8

q2 · i? · causal · r2

Linear mixed model of standardised SVIPT skill (Skill ~ Group x Block + (1 | Participant)) in 51 young adults pseudo-randomly allocated to HIIT (n = 27) or active control (n = 24); the "interaction between Exercise Group and Block" reached p = .040. Post-hoc block differences were uncorrected.

"We observed a main effect of Block (F5, 245 = 11.34, p < .001), no main effect of Exercise Group (F1,49 = 2.78, p = .10), but importantly there was an interaction between Exercise Group and Block ( F5, 245 = 2.37, p = .040) that superseded the main effects."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• The HIIT and active control exercise conditions were physiologically distinct, confirming the intended exercise manipulation — related
• HIIT participants achieved greater total SVIPT learning than active controls over the session (d = 0.58) — possibly the same claim (merge candidate)
• The HIIT benefit on skill learning is driven primarily by improved accuracy, shown by a Group × Block interaction for force error — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• HIIT did not selectively influence online or offline learning subcomponents relative to active control — related
• Trial time during acquisition was unaffected by exercise group but slowed over blocks for older participants — related
• High-intensity exercise prior to practice reduced skill acquisition in older adults, with the detriment specific to the oldest participants — reports the opposite
• The acquisition detriment after exercise was driven by the accuracy subcomponent: older participants reduced force error after rest but not after exercise — reports the opposite