Fig. 1

Experimental procedures of this study. Panel A shows the consort flow diagram for three visits of this study. In the familiarization day, subjects performed the color–word Stroop task (CWST) practice and one-repetition maximum (1-RM) measurement. In the two experimental days, subjects completed low-intensity resistance exercise with slow movement and tonic force generation (ST-LRE) and high-intensity resistance exercise (HRE) sessions in a crossover design with a randomized and counterbalanced order. Panel B shows experimental procedure during the two experimental days. The exercise loads for ST-LRE and HRE were set at 50% and 80% of 1-RM, respectively. The bilateral knee extension exercise for both ST-LRE and HRE was programmed for six sets with eight repetitions per set. The CWST was administered at baseline, before exercise, immediately after exercise, and every 10 min during the 30-min post-exercise recovery period