Effects of acute moderate-intensity exercise on executive function in children with preterm birth: A randomized crossover study

Feng-Tzu Chen; Sheng-Hsien Feng; Jui-Ti Nien; Yi-Ting Cheng; Ying-Chu Chen; Yu-Kai Chang

doi:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2023.105795

Effects of acute moderate-intensity exercise on executive function in children with preterm birth: A randomized crossover study

Early Hum Dev. 2023 Aug:183:105795. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2023.105795. Epub 2023 May 30.

Authors

Feng-Tzu Chen¹, Sheng-Hsien Feng², Jui-Ti Nien³, Yi-Ting Cheng³, Ying-Chu Chen³, Yu-Kai Chang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Sports Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
² Department of Leisure Industry Management, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, Taichung, Taiwan.
³ Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute for Research Excellence in Learning Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan; Social Emotional Education and Development Center, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: yukaichangnew@gmail.com.

PMID: 37364431
DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2023.105795

Abstract

Background: Acute exercise appears to promote executive function (EF) in children. However, the effect of acute exercise on EF in children with preterm birth (PB) remains unclear.

Objective: To investigate whether acute moderate-intensity exercise improves EF in children with PB.

Methods: Twenty child participants with PB (age = 10.95 ± 1.19 years, birth age = 31.71 ± 3.64 weeks) completed exercise and control sessions in a randomized crossover design. In the exercise session, participants completed a 30-minute period of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. In the control session, participants watched a video for appropriately 30 min. Following each session immediately, inhibitory control, an aspect of EF, was assessed with the Numerical Stroop task.

Results: Response time (RT) for the Stroop's incongruent condition was shorter after the exercise session than after the control session. However, no differences were observed in RT for the congruent condition. Accuracy rate (ACC) in both congruent and incongruent conditions did not differ between exercise and control session.

Conclusion: The findings support the beneficial effect of acute exercise on executive function (EF) in children with PB, particularly in terms of improving inhibitory control.

Keywords: Children; Cognitive function; Executive control; Inhibition; Physical activity.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Child
Cross-Over Studies
Executive Function* / physiology
Exercise / physiology
Humans
Premature Birth*
Reaction Time