| Summary: | Abstract Objective This study investigated the effects of a single bout of moderate-intensity exercise on inhibitory control and transient mood states in college students with depressive symptoms. Methods Seventy-five participants with depressive symptoms were randomized into three groups: treadmill exercise, taekwondo exercise (both at moderate intensity), and a non-intervention control group. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included immediate mood states, behavioral performance (reaction time and accuracy) on Go/No-go and Stroop tasks, and concurrent event-related potentials (ERPs). Repeated-measures ANOVA and Pearson correlation analyses were employed to examine exercise-induced changes in inhibitory control and mood. Results Post-exercise, both exercise groups exhibited significant improvements in No-go accuracy (treadmill: +10.6%, taekwondo: +20.0%, P < 0.05), though reaction times remained unchanged (P > 0.05). The taekwondo group demonstrated superior Stroop performance, with increased accuracy in congruent (+ 2.9%, P = 0.007, 95% CI [0.698, 4.161]) and incongruent trials (+ 2.7%) and reduced reaction times (congruent: −0.114 s, incongruent: −0.141 s, P = 0.002, 95% CI [− 0.091, − 0.022]), outperforming the treadmill group in reaction time (P < 0.001, 95% CI [− 0.097, − 0.028]). ERP analysis revealed enhanced N2/P3 amplitudes and shortened latencies in exercise groups (P < 0.05), with taekwondo showing broader cortical activation. Immediate mood scores were significantly lower in exercise groups versus controls (F = 5.525, P = 0.006), correlating inversely with inhibitory accuracy (r = − 0.432, P < 0.001) and positively with conflict inhibition reaction time (r = 0.245, P = 0.048). Conclusion A single bout of moderate-intensity exercise confers acute benefits for inhibitory control and mood regulation in depressive individuals. Taekwondo demonstrates greater efficacy than treadmill exercise in enhancing cognitive performance and emotional states, suggesting exercise modality-specific neurobehavioral effects. Improved inhibitory function may mediate mood amelioration, highlighting exercise as a viable adjunct intervention for depressive symptoms.
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