Abstract

The 16th ISSP World Congress, sponsored by the Shine Tak Foundation and organized by the International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP), took place from December 8 to 12, 2025, at the Hong Kong Sports Institute. During this prestigious event, Ying-Chu Chen (Steve) presented recent research titled ‘The Influence of Acute Resistance Exercise Volume on Inhibitory Control: A Randomized Controlled Trial.’ The study investigated the effects of low versus moderate-intensity resistance exercise on cognitive function, specifically inhibitory control, utilizing the Stroop Task. The findings suggested that when total exercise volume is equalized, both low and moderate-intensity resistance exercises yield comparable improvements in inhibitory control, highlighting the importance of volume over intensity in acute cognitive benefits.

Date

Dec 8, 2025 — Dec 12, 2025

Event

The 16th ISSP World Congress

Location

Hong Kong Sports Institute

25 Yuen Wo Road, Shatin, New Territories

Certificate of Attendance: Mr. Ying-Chu Chen participated in The 16th ISSP World Congress, sponsored by the Shine Tak Foundation and hosted by the Hong Kong Sports Institute between 8 and 12 December 2025.

Presentation Highlights: In his oral presentation, “The Influence of Acute Resistance Exercise Volume on Inhibitory Control: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” Ying-Chu Chen discussed the relationship between resistance training variables and executive function. The study utilized a randomized controlled design to compare the effects of different exercise intensities with matched total volumes.

Key Findings:

• Volume Matters: The study concluded that exercise volume might be a key determinant for acute cognitive benefits.

• Intensity Agnostic: Both low and moderate-intensity resistance exercise protocols resulted in significant improvements in inhibitory control (measured by the Stroop Task) when the total volume was held constant.

• Physiological Response: Lactate levels increased similarly across exercise groups, suggesting a comparable metabolic response supporting the cognitive gains.

• Clinical Implication: Low-intensity resistance exercise can be an effective strategy for enhancing cognitive health, especially for populations unable to perform high-intensity training, provided the volume is sufficient.

This research contributes to the growing body of evidence in exercise cognition interaction, offering practical guidelines for exercise prescription aimed at brain health.