The effects of high-intensity interval training on executive function in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective To systematically evaluate the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on executive function in children and adolescents, and to quantify its effects on inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility using a three-level meta-analysis. Methods PubMed, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP databases were searched from inception to May 2026. Randomized controlled trials and non-randomized controlled intervention studies examining the effect