The DOI matches its Crossref record; 173 of the 174 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
A primer on investigating the after effects of acute bouts of physical activity on cognition
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“Furthermore, exercise prescription is the key for dosing (Wasfy and Baggish, 2016; Pontifex et al., 2018) and for individualization of acute physical exercises and physical training (Lightfoot, 2008).”
From Dose-Response Matters! - A Perspective on the Exercise Prescription in Exercise-Cognition Research (2019) · cites this paper as Pontifex et al., 2018
Citations
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Cited by
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Pérez-Romero, N., Campos‐Jara, C., Pesce, C., Araya-Sierralta, S., Cerda-Vega, E., Ramírez‐Campillo, R., Campos-Jara, R., Martínez‐Salazar, C., Arellano-Roco, C., Hernández-Cifuentes, V., et al. (2025) · Sports · doi:10.3390/sports13040123
“Indeed, it is an issue of continued debate how best to classify assessments as to the domain(s) of cognition of interest, especially when cognitive assessments are impure and may rely upon multiple cognitive domains [34].”
Mancı, E., Özdalyan, F., Gebel, A., Güdücü, Ç., Günay, E., Jenny, S. E., Mueller, N. G., & Herold, F. (2025) · International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching · doi:10.1177/17479541251342721 · Cited by 1
“25,83 A higher accuracy and faster reaction time indicate better cognitive performance and study report good validity.”
Efeito agudo do exercício físico nas funções executivas de crianças e adolescentes
Franco, S. D. F. A., & Deslandes, A. C. (2025) · Congresso de Educação Física de Volta Redonda · doi:10.47385/cedvr.2217.6.2025
Barker, G. A., O'Neal, E. K., Killen, L. G., Carpenter, R. S., Kang, C., Queen, C. J. J., McNaughton, L. R., & Waldman, H. S. (2025) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-8196814/v1
Heiland, E. G., Kjellenberg, K., Tarassova, O., Fernström, M., Nyberg, G., Ekblom, M. M., Helgadóttir, B., & Ekblom, Ö. (2022) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.17982973
Heiland, E. G., Kjellenberg, K., Tarassova, O., Fernström, M., Nyberg, G., Ekblom, M. M., Helgadóttir, B., & Ekblom, Ö. (2022) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.17982979
Solis-Urra, P., Arancibia, J. E. O., Suárez‐Cadenas, E., Sanchez-Martinez, J., Rodríguez-Rodríguez, F., Ortega, F. B., Esteban‐Cornejo, I., Cadenas‐Sánchez, C., Castro‐Piñero, J., Veloz, A., et al. (2019) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.9119375
Heiland, E. G., Kjellenberg, K., Tarassova, O., Fernström, M., Nyberg, G., Ekblom, M. M., Helgadóttir, B., & Ekblom, Ö. (2022) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.17982970
Herold, F., Pontifex, M. B., Gronwald, T., & Heath, M. D. (2026) · Sport Sciences for Health · doi:10.1007/s11332-025-01627-z
“A wealth of evidence has reported that acute [1–4] and chronic physical activity (PA) [5, 6], including planned and structured forms referred to as physical exercise [7], improve cognitive performance.”
Self-citationSwim, Bike, Sit: Effects of Acute Exercise on Memory and Inhibitory Control
Klapprott, M., & Debener, S. (2026) · Journal of Cognitive Enhancement · doi:10.1007/s41465-025-00340-6 · Cited by 1
Zhu, C., Ibrahim, H. B., Chi, P., Wang, Y., Xu, X., Peng, T., & Chi, A. (2026) · BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation · doi:10.1186/s13102-026-01593-0
“…were randomized controlled trials (parallel-group or within-subject crossover) comparing an exercise arm with a non-exercise control, using pre–post or posttest-only outcome assessment [37]; crossover trials required adequate control of carryover/washout or were flagged in risk-of-bias [29].”
Jung, M., Hord, L., Patrick, Z., McMorris, T., Voss, M. W., Hillman, C. H., & Loprinzi, P. D. (2026) · Journal of Cognitive Enhancement · doi:10.1007/s41465-026-00348-6
The Effects of Acute Exercise on Memory: Considerations of the Backward Testing Effect
Patrick, Z., DuBois, S. L., Etnier, J. L., & Loprinzi, P. D. (2026) · Journal of Cognitive Enhancement · doi:10.1007/s41465-026-00349-5
Acute Effect of a Physical Education Lesson on Attention in a Population of Adolescents
Cocca, A., Unterkircher, J., Cocca, M., & Kopp, M. (2026) · Quest · doi:10.1080/00336297.2026.2641133
Babayoğlu, S., Çemç, M. S., Vural, S., Açar, G., Kamçı, E. D., & Babayoğlu, A. (2026) · Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2026.1795851
“…relationship is a complex system shaped by the interaction of numerous environmental and individual factors, such as age, PA level, the cognitive domain being assessed, and SES, rather than a unidimensional structure (López-Vicente et al., 2017; Pontifex et al., 2019; Williams et al., 2019).”
Son, Y., & Jung, Y. (2026) · Brain Sciences · doi:10.3390/brainsci16060558
Asahara, R., Fukuie, M., Hoshi, D., Won, J., Zhang, R., Sugawara, J., & Tarumi, T. (2026) · Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging · doi:10.1002/jmri.70329
“Executive function, defined as higher-level cognitive control processes that enable goal-directed behavior [14, 15], has frequently been examined as a target of acute exercise interventions [3].”
InfluentialHerold, F., Kujach, S., & Gronwald, T. (2026) · Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging · doi:10.1002/jmri.70400
“The second follow-up assessment, which is absent in comparable studies (for review see [3]), is a notable strength because it enables examination of the poorly understood temporal dynamics of the after-effects of acute physical exercise at behavioral and neural levels [2].”
InfluentialDamrongthai, C., Kuwamizu, R., Yamazaki, Y., Aoike, N., Lee, D., Byun, K., Torma, F., Hyodo, K., Churdchomjan, W., Yassa, M. A., et al. (2026) · Imaging Neuroscience · doi:10.1162/imag.a.1297 · Cited by 2
“There are numerous studies reporting the effects of acute exercise on cognitive function ( Pontifex et al., 2019), but major studies often focus on cycling, with which exercise intensity is easier to control.”
McManus, L., Scriney, M., & Egan, B. (2026) · International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism · doi:10.1123/ijsnem.2026-0098
Wu, T.-T., Chang, Y., Yao, Z., Ren, F.-F., Wang, S.-C., & Chen, F.-T. (2026) · Acta Psychologica · doi:10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.107484
Akkaya, C. C., & Ceylan, C. (2026) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2026.1911856
Zhang, C., Wang, T., Song, Y., Meng, X., Zhang, C., Qi, Z., He, X., & Xiang, M.-Q. (2026) · Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness · doi:10.1016/j.jesf.2026.200502
“Meta-analytic evidence indicates that exercise-induced cognitive benefits persist for approximately 30 – 50 min after exercise, 24 supporting post-exercise cognitive assessment within this period.”
Zhao, Y., Li, X., Loumeng, Z., Li, Q., Sun, W., Tian, X., Gao, B., & Li, R. (2026) · Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnagi.2026.1861129
“Numerous previous studies have demonstrated that a single bout of aerobic exercise can acutely improve the EF in older adults (Ishihara et al., 2021; Netz et al., 2023; Pontifex et al., 2019).”
Olson, R. L., Carmichael, K. E., Materia, M. A., & Brush, C. J. (2026) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2026.115479
Short tennis boosts inhibitory control more than walkingPreprint
Takahashi, S., & Grove, P. M. (2026) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-10664556/v1
Li, C., Shangguan, Y., Zhong, Z., Zhou, R., Wang, H., & Li, D. (2026) · European Journal of Pediatrics · doi:10.1007/s00431-026-07341-3
“Moderate exercise helps regulate individuals into an optimal range that is more conducive to information processing, thereby improving sustained attention and selective attention in classroom settings [57].”
Chang, C., Hsieh, C.-C., Lin, T.-Y., Chueh, T., & Hung, T. (2026) · International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology · doi:10.1080/1612197x.2026.2730160
Brief moderate-intensity cycling, momentary nervousness, and mathematics performance in young adults
Ouwehand, K., Mavilidi, M. F., van Nooijen, C. C. A., Lindemann, O., de Koster, M., Schmidt, M., Zou, L., Qian, Y., de Koning, B. B., & Paas, F. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1824734
“Pontifex et al. (2019) concluded that evidence for acute exercise effects remains inconclusive for specific types of executive functions (e.g., working memory and cognitive flexibility), as well as for memory and intelligence or achievement outcomes.”
Temporal Dynamics of Cognitive Change following Acute Aerobic Physical Activity in Emerging Adults
Pasupathi, P. A., O’Brokta, M. M., Cornwall, A. S., Herrera, B. M., Kehoe, A. R. D., & Drollette, E. S. (2026) · Journal of Cognitive Enhancement · doi:10.1007/s41465-026-00370-8
de Morais, E. B. N., Costa, C. L. A., Ferreira, J. O., Souza, S., da Silva, H. M., & Bonuzzi, G. M. G. (2026) · Journal of Motor Behavior · doi:10.1080/00222895.2026.2736284
Nicoliche, E., Vasconcelos, A., Machado, M., Tanaka, G., Alves, D. D. P. A., Cardoso, P., Vicente, R., Marques, A., Vivacqua, T., Costa, É., et al. (2026) · Clinical EEG and Neuroscience · doi:10.1177/15500594261492489
Cristi‐Montero, C., Martínez‐Flores, R., Supèr, H., Sanchez‐Martinez, J., Solis‐Urra, P., Tari, B., Romualdo Ibáñez, O., Herold, F., PAAS, F. G. W. C., Mavilidi, M. F., et al. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1930058
“The cross-over design provided 39 participant-condition combinations and 9,556 item-level pupillometry data points nested within participants and texts (Pontifex et al., 2019).”
Wang, P., & Tolegenuly, N. (2026) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-11009223/v1
Esentaş, M., Futsi, D., Rize, C. F., Uylas, E., Dinç, N., & Günay, E. (2026) · Journal of Intelligence · doi:10.3390/jintelligence14100269
“In particular, the current literature clearly demonstrates the macroscopic effects of long-term exercise programs on brain plasticity (Chang et al., 2012; Pontifex et al., 2018).”
Metadata
- Authors
- Pontifex, M. B., McGowan, A. L., Chandler, M. C., Gwizdala, K. L., Parks, A. C., Fenn, K., & Kamijo, K.
- Affiliations
- Michigan State University (US)
- University of Tsukuba (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Pontifex, Matthew B.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Psychology of Sport and Exercise
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2019-01
- Volume
- 40
- Pages
- 1-22
- ISSN
- 1469-0292 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2889924106
- Cited by
- 339
- References
- 174
- Citations by year
- 2026: 40 · 2025: 50 · 2024: 39 · 2023: 51 · 2022: 59 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 37 · 2019: 24
- FWCI
- 16.45
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychology of sport and exercise (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
- Keywords
- acute exercise, single bout exercise, exercise and cognition, dose-response relationship, moderators, experimental design, cognitive assessment, reporting transparency, research methodology
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