High-Intensity Interval Training Across Exercise Environments: Acute Effects on Physiological Stress, Cardiovascular Responses, Executive Function, and Psychological Experience

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial utilizing a randomized crossover design)is to explore the modulating effects of different exercise environments （green parks, outdoor athletic tracks, and indoor settings) on acute responses to High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). It aims to determine if environmental factors can optimize an individual's stress regulation, cognitive improvement, and psychological exercise experience. The study involves 25 healthy full-time college students aged 18 to 25.

The main questions it aims to answer are：

1. Are there significant differences in physiological stress (e.g., salivary cortisol, HRV) and cardiovascular responses when performing HIIT in different exercise environments (indoor, track, park)?
2. How does the exercise environment influence executive function (inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility) and subjective psychological experiences (e.g., emotional state, enjoyment, and exercise motivation) following HIIT? Researchers will compare the performance of participants across three conditions-Green Park (natural environment), Outdoor Athletic Track (conventional outdoor environment), and Indoor Venue (artificial environment)-to identify the modulating effects of different environments on exercise outcomes.

Participants will ：

Sign the informed consent form and complete baseline health screenings and psychological scales.

Undergo resting physiological measurements (Heart Rate, Heart Rate Variability, Blood Pressure, Salivary Cortisol) and complete computerized executive function tasks (Stroop task and More-odd-shifting task).

Perform approximately 15 minutes of standardized preparation activities (warm-up).

Complete a 15-minute high-intensity interval jump-rope training session (using a protocol of 30 seconds of high-intensity exercise followed by 30 seconds of recovery) in a randomly assigned environment.

Immediately following the exercise, undergo repeated physiological measurements, psychological assessments, and cognitive function tests.

Conditions

• Sport Participation

Interventions

OTHER

HIIT in Indoor Environment

Participants will perform a 15-minute jump-rope High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) session in a controlled indoor sports venue. The protocol consists of 15 rounds of 30-second high-intensity exercise (target: 85-90% HRmax, RPE 15-17) followed by 30-second active recovery (target: 55-60% HRmax, RPE 9-10). The session includes standardized warm-up and post-exercise physiological and cognitive assessments.

OTHER

HIIT in Outdoor Athletic Track

Participants will perform a 15-minute jump-rope HIIT session on a standard outdoor athletic track. The training protocol is identical to the indoor session: 15 rounds of 30-second high-intensity work (85-90% HRmax) and 30-second recovery (55-60% HRmax). This condition focuses on the effects of a conventional outdoor built environment on physiological stress and executive function.

OTHER

HIIT in Green Park Environment

Participants will perform a 15-minute jump-rope HIIT session in a natural green park environment. The protocol remains consistent: 15 rounds of 30-second high-intensity work (85-90% HRmax) and 30-second recovery (55-60% HRmax). This condition aims to investigate the synergistic effects of "green exercise" on stress reduction, cardiovascular response, and cognitive enhancement.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Shanghai University of Sport

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• kun Zhu, Ph.D. · Shanghai University of Sport

• jiwei Chen, Ph.D. · Shanghai University of Sport

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

SINGLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

25 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-04-15

Primary Completion

2026-06-10

Completion

2026-06-10

Countries

• China

Study Locations