International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | An Interview with One of the Authors—Prof. Christel Galvani
Name: Prof. Christel Galvani
Affiliations: 1 Exercise and Sport Science Laboratory, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy; 2 Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy
Interests: physical activity, exercise physiology, exercise oncology
“The Combined Effect of Acute Interval and Cognitive Training on Visual-Spatial Abilities in Women: Preliminary Insights for Health Promotion”
by Christel Galvani, Sabrina Demarie, Ester Tommasini, Alessandro Antonietti, Thomas Zandonai and Paolo Bruseghini
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(10), 1524; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22101524
The following is an interview with Prof. Christel Galvani:
1. Congratulations on your recent publication! Could you briefly introduce yourself and your current research focus?
I obtained my PhD in Sciences et Techniques des Activités Physiques et Sportives (STAPS) in 2008, and I am currently an Associate Professor in Sport Science at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Milan, Italy). I co-coordinate the Master’s program in Sport Science for Prevention and Rehabilitation and teach a variety of courses at both the bachelor’s and master’s levels. I also coordinate an International Short Program in Sport Science at my university. I am involved in several boards and committees, including the teachers' board of the international PhD in Exercise and Sport Sciences and the governing board of the Master’s Degree in Physical Training Specialist in Soccer. I am also a Fellow Member of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS).
In addition, I lead the Exercise and Sport Science Laboratory, where much of my research takes place, and I have the honor of managing this laboratory, which was founded more than twenty years ago by Prof. Marcello Faina, my mentor, with whom I had the opportunity to collaborate. Throughout these twenty years, my research has focused on physiological responses to exercise, physical activity, and exercise therapy. I am passionate about applying science to develop training programs that are effective, inclusive, and beneficial for women’s health, helping them improve performance, well-being, and quality of life.
In recent years, I have particularly specialized in female-focused training, as reflected in the article I recently published. Alongside this, I am leading a major project on rowing training for women who have undergone breast cancer surgery—the ERICE Project (Effect and efficacy of RowIng in breast CancEr survivors)—which has received positive attention and recognition at the national level.
2. What inspired you to focus specifically on the effects of interval training combined with cognitive exercises on visual-spatial abilities in women?
We decided to focus on interval training combined with cognitive exercises in women because there is still a significant lack of research on how these workouts affect women’s visual-spatial abilities. Most existing studies are conducted on men, even though women often perform differently on tasks such as mental rotation and are usually less physically active.
Since visual-spatial skills are important for everyday life, sports, and overall cognitive health, it seemed essential to explore whether a short, combined workout could help boost these abilities in women. Another motivation was that no prior research had specifically examined the effects of pairing interval training with cognitive training in a single session, particularly in women. The goal was not only to fill this research gap but also to investigate whether this time-efficient training could provide a simple and practical way to support women’s brain health, focus, and performance—both in sports and daily activities.
3. Are there any sports or daily activities where improving visual-spatial ability through such training could be particularly beneficial?
Yes—improving visual-spatial ability through this combined training could be highly beneficial in several sports and everyday situations. Many sports rely heavily on rapid spatial judgments, mental rotation, and body awareness. Examples include soccer, gymnastics, badminton, and table tennis, where athletes must process fast-changing visual information and make quick decisions. Enhanced visual-spatial skills can improve reaction time, movement planning, and accuracy—critical factors in these activities.
These benefits also extend to everyday life. Strong visual-spatial abilities aid in navigation, driving, estimating distances, organizing objects, and performing tasks that require coordination and quick decision-making. Since cognitive health is important across the lifespan, developing these skills in young adulthood can support long-term cognitive resilience. Training visual-spatial skills now may improve current performance in sports and daily tasks while also preserving cognitive skills and independence later in life.
4. How do you see these findings influencing public health recommendations, especially for women who may have limited time for exercise?
These findings could have a significant impact on public health recommendations, particularly for women who often have limited time to exercise. Both high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and low-volume interval training (LVIT) are highly time-efficient, showing that even brief sessions combining physical and cognitive exercises can support visual-spatial abilities. This approach makes exercise realistic and accessible for busy women balancing work, study, and family responsibilities.
From a public health perspective, this is especially relevant in societies with high demands and limited time. Strengthening cognitive abilities is crucial not only for daily functioning but also for stress management and overall well-being. Building strong cognitive skills early in life contributes to healthier aging. In fact, these findings support the idea that improving cognitive function now can help create a cognitive “reserve” across the lifespan, potentially slowing functional decline and preserving autonomy in older age. In short, this type of combined, time-efficient training could be a practical tool to support women’s cognitive health both now and in the future.
5. What was the most challenging aspect of designing and conducting this study?
One of the most challenging aspects was managing the intensity of the “all-out” interval training sessions. Although the protocol was safe and carefully supervised, high-intensity exercise is demanding both physically and mentally. Some participants were hesitant to begin the workout simply because of its intensity.
This created a natural barrier: for many individuals, high-intensity exercise can feel intimidating, which may limit participation even before training begins. Managing this hesitation, motivating participants, and ensuring they felt supported throughout the sessions were key challenges. The study also highlighted a broader issue: while intense exercise is beneficial, it can be a barrier to engagement, particularly among populations that may already be less active or uncertain about their fitness level.
6. Could you share your experience of publishing in IJERPH? In addition, do you think IJERPH plays a unique platform role in promoting interdisciplinary integration and knowledge dissemination?
Publishing in IJERPH was a very positive experience. The review process was thorough and constructive, and the reviewers’ feedback helped improve both the clarity and impact of our work. Communication with the editorial team was smooth, and the submission system was straightforward and efficient.
IJERPH is a multidisciplinary journal, making it ideal for studies with interdisciplinary topics like ours. Our research combines exercise science, cognitive psychology, and women’s health, and publishing in a journal that values interdisciplinary approaches allowed our work to reach a broad audience. IJERPH effectively facilitates knowledge dissemination and encourages the integration of perspectives from different disciplines, enhancing the relevance and impact of cross-disciplinary research.
7. Based on your experience publishing with us, what aspects of our editorial process most impacted your author experience?
The aspect of the editorial process that had the greatest impact was the speed of the review process. Receiving timely feedback allowed us to address reviewer comments quickly and move the manuscript forward without unnecessary delays. In addition, communication with the editorial team was very constructive and efficient, which greatly facilitated the process. Overall, the combination of efficient, constructive communication and fast, thorough reviews made the submission and revision process smooth and highly positive for us as authors.
We sincerely thank Prof. Christel Galvani for sharing her time and insights. Her research on the effects of combined interval training and cognitive exercise on visual-spatial abilities in women bridges exercise science and cognitive health, offering a time-efficient, evidence-based strategy to support women’s performance and well-being. We wish her continued success in advancing this important field and expanding access to practical, inclusive health solutions for women across diverse life stages and settings.