Relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and executive function of Chinese Tibetan adolescents aged 13-18

Yuan Liu; Jun Hong; Xiaojian Yin; Feng Zhang; Yaru Guo; Pengwei Sun

doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2023.09.003

Relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and executive function of Chinese Tibetan adolescents aged 13-18

J Sci Med Sport. 2023 Nov;26(11):610-615. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2023.09.003. Epub 2023 Sep 12.

Authors

Yuan Liu¹, Jun Hong¹, Xiaojian Yin², Feng Zhang¹, Yaru Guo¹, Pengwei Sun¹

Affiliations

¹ College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, China; Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of the Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, China.
² College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, China; Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of the Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, China; College of Economics and Management, Shanghai Institute of Technology, China. Electronic address: yinxiaojian@sit.edu.cn.

PMID: 37739853
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2023.09.003

Abstract

Objectives: Explore the correlation between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and execution function (EF) of Chinese Tibetan adolescents at high altitude (HA) areas.

Design: A cross-sectional survey was used to study 1138 participants aged 13-18 (47.72% boys) at baseline.

Methods: Lhasa (3650 m), Nagqu (4500 m), Qamdo (3500 m), and Nyingchi (3100 m) in China were chosen. CRF was measured by the 20 m shuttle run test (20mSRT) and a subsequent estimation of their maximal oxygen consumption (V̇O_2max) was calculated using the Léger equations. The three core EFs (inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility) were tested by a modified Eriksen flanker, N-back, and a more-odd shifting. The association between CRF and EF was explored by Pearson correlation, one-way ANOVA, and stratified regression.

Results: The reaction time (RT) of 1-back, cognitive flexibility with V̇O_2max showed a declining trend, (F = 34.475, 27.498, P < 0.01). Interestingly, 2-back RT went up and then went down with V̇O_2max. (F = 29.55, P < 0.01). After increasing V̇O_2max as a variable, a stratified regression analysis with the RT for 1-back, 2-back, and cognitive flexibility showed that ΔR² equaled 0.107 ms, 0.071 ms, and 0.091 ms, respectively (P < 0.01). With V̇O_2max increased by 1 mL/kg/min, the RT of 1-back, 2-back, and cognitive flexibility shortened 14.697 ms, 15.689 ms, and 11.771 ms, respectively.

Conclusions: CRF was positively associated with working memory, and cognitive flexibility development among Chinese Tibetan adolescents living at HA areas, respectively.

Keywords: Adolescents; Cardiorespiratory fitness; Executive function; High altitude; Tibetan.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Cardiorespiratory Fitness* / physiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
East Asian People
Executive Function
Female
Humans
Male
Oxygen Consumption
Tibet