Acute whole-body vibration therapy enhances cognitive speed without altering heart rate variability in healthy young adults

Zaw Myo Hein; Nisha Shantakumari; Yazan Ayman Khaoli; Che Mohd Nasril Che Mohd Nassir; Zaw Myo Hein; Nisha Shantakumari; Yazan Ayman Khaoli; Che Mohd Nasril Che Mohd Nassir

doi:10.3934/Neuroscience.2025028

AIMS Neuroscience

2025, Volume 12, Issue 4: 570-591. doi: 10.3934/Neuroscience.2025028

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Research article

Acute whole-body vibration therapy enhances cognitive speed without altering heart rate variability in healthy young adults

1.
Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Ajman University, P.O. BOX 346, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
2.
Center of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research (CMBHSR), Ajman University, P.O. BOX 346, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
3.
Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, 20400 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia
These two authors contributed equally.

Received: 30 August 2025 Revised: 19 October 2025 Accepted: 21 October 2025 Published: 13 November 2025

Whole-body vibration therapy (WBVT) is increasingly recognized as an alternative exercise modality with established benefits for musculoskeletal and cardiovascular health. Its effects on cognitive performance and autonomic regulation in healthy young adults, however, remain unclear. This within-subject study investigated whether acute WBVT influences executive function and heart rate variability (HRV). Thirty-six healthy volunteers (aged 18–25 years) completed two testing sessions separated by 7 days: a baseline (no vibration) session and a single 10-min WBVT session performed in a standing posture. Cognitive performance was assessed immediately after each session using a modified Stroop test, and electrocardiographic recordings were analyzed for HRV indices, including stress index, low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) power, LF/HF ratio, and mean heart rate. Compared with baseline, WBVT was associated with faster mean reaction times for congruent and incongruent Stroop stimuli (all p < 0.001) without changes in response accuracy. The stress index increased during the Stroop task relative to baseline (p = 0.052) and returned toward baseline following WBVT, whereas LF, HF, the LF/HF ratio, and total power showed no statistically significant changes. In this cohort, acute WBVT was associated with improved processing speed without measurable alterations in standard HRV metrics. These preliminary findings suggest that WBVT may transiently facilitate attentional processing in healthy young adults, but controlled trials with sham conditions and mechanistic measures are needed to confirm and contextualize these effects.
- whole body vibration,
- therapy,
- cognitive function,
- heart rate variability,
- Stroop Test,
- executive function
Citation: Zaw Myo Hein, Nisha Shantakumari, Yazan Ayman Khaoli, Che Mohd Nasril Che Mohd Nassir. Acute whole-body vibration therapy enhances cognitive speed without altering heart rate variability in healthy young adults[J]. AIMS Neuroscience, 2025, 12(4): 570-591. doi: 10.3934/Neuroscience.2025028

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Abstract

Whole-body vibration therapy (WBVT) is increasingly recognized as an alternative exercise modality with established benefits for musculoskeletal and cardiovascular health. Its effects on cognitive performance and autonomic regulation in healthy young adults, however, remain unclear. This within-subject study investigated whether acute WBVT influences executive function and heart rate variability (HRV). Thirty-six healthy volunteers (aged 18–25 years) completed two testing sessions separated by 7 days: a baseline (no vibration) session and a single 10-min WBVT session performed in a standing posture. Cognitive performance was assessed immediately after each session using a modified Stroop test, and electrocardiographic recordings were analyzed for HRV indices, including stress index, low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) power, LF/HF ratio, and mean heart rate. Compared with baseline, WBVT was associated with faster mean reaction times for congruent and incongruent Stroop stimuli (all p < 0.001) without changes in response accuracy. The stress index increased during the Stroop task relative to baseline (p = 0.052) and returned toward baseline following WBVT, whereas LF, HF, the LF/HF ratio, and total power showed no statistically significant changes. In this cohort, acute WBVT was associated with improved processing speed without measurable alterations in standard HRV metrics. These preliminary findings suggest that WBVT may transiently facilitate attentional processing in healthy young adults, but controlled trials with sham conditions and mechanistic measures are needed to confirm and contextualize these effects.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their gratitude to Ajman University for the support provided by the Deanship of Research and Graduate Studies, Ajman University, UAE (Grant No. 2023-IRG-MED-7). The authors also thank the participants from Ajman University for their time and effort in data collection, and Ajman University for funding the article processing charges (APC). We are grateful for the valuable assistance received from Swe Swe Latt, Poramut Thamprechavai, Abdul Ilah Ghazwan Dakak, Safielrahman Haitham Sami Elawaddlly, and Odai Hussain Al Nahar.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Authors' contributions

Zaw Myo Hein and Nisha Shantakumari: Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Resources, Project administration, Methodology, Investigation, Supervision, Formal analysis, Data curation, Conceptualization. Yazan Ayman Khaoli: Investigation, Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Resources. Che Mohd Nasril Che Mohd Nassir: Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Methodology, Formal analysis, Data curation.

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