Effect of High-intensity Functional Training on Visuospatial Working Memory in Middle-aged Adults: A Pilot Study

1. Postgraduate Student, Department of Physiotherapy, Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, India. 2. Professor, Department of Physiotherapy, Amity Institute of Health Allied Sciences, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India. 3. Postgraduate Student, Department of Physiotherapy, Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, India. 4. Postgraduate Student, Department of Physiotherapy, Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, India. 5. Postgraduate Student, Department of Physiotherapy, Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, India.

Abstract

Introduction: Visuospatial working memory is a key cognitive domain that shows subtle decline with age. While aerobic exercise has demonstrated cognitive benefits, evidence on the effects of High-intensity Functional Training (HIFT) on Visuospatial Working Memory (VSWM) in middle-aged adults remains limited.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of a 6-week HIFT program on VSWM storage and executive updating in healthy middle-aged adults.

Materials and Methods: The present single-arm pre-post pilot study was conducted at Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be Uni-versity), Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, India, between August and December 2025. Seventy-two healthy adults (36 males, 36 females), aged 35-50 years, underwent a supervised HIFT (5 sessions/week for 6 weeks). VSWM was assessed at baseline and post-intervention using the Corsi Block-Tapping Task (memory span) and a Visuospatial 2-back task (updating), with sensitivity index (d') and Reaction Time (RT) as outcome measures. Data were analysed using paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test with effect size estima-tion.

Results: The median Corsi span increased from 4.0 to 5.0 (p<0.001; r=0.86). On the 2-back task, sensitivity (d') improved from 2.36±0.52 to 2.84±0.48 (p<0.001; d=0.68), and RT decreased from 612±95 ms to 558±82 ms (p<0.001; d=0.61).

Conclusion: A 6-week HIFT program was associated with improvements in both storage and execu-tive components of VSWM in middle-aged adults. These findings are preliminary and should be interpreted cautiously due to the single-arm design. HIFT may represent a time-efficient exercise strategy with po-tential cognitive benefits in middle adulthood.

Attention, Cognitive aging, Physical fitness, Prefrontal cortex, Visuospatial memory