Association of physical activity and fitness with executive function among preschoolers

Xun Luo; Fabian Herold; Sebastian Ludyga; Markus Gerber; Keita Kamijo; Matthew B Pontifex; Charles H Hillman; Bandon L Alderman; Notger G Müller; Arthur F Kramer; Toru Ishihara; Wook Song; Liye Zou

doi:10.1016/j.ijchp.2023.100400

Association of physical activity and fitness with executive function among preschoolers

Int J Clin Health Psychol. 2023 Oct-Dec;23(4):100400. doi: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2023.100400. Epub 2023 Aug 23.

Authors

Xun Luo^{1

2}, Fabian Herold^{2

3}, Sebastian Ludyga⁴, Markus Gerber⁴, Keita Kamijo⁵, Matthew B Pontifex⁶, Charles H Hillman^{7

8}, Bandon L Alderman⁹, Notger G Müller^{2

3}, Arthur F Kramer^{7

10}, Toru Ishihara¹¹, Wook Song¹², Liye Zou^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China.
² Body-Brain-Mind Laboratory, School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, 518060, China.
³ Research Group Degenerative and Chronic Diseases, Movement, Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, University of Potsdam, 14476 Potsdam, Germany.
⁴ Department of Sport, Exercise & Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
⁵ Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Chukyo University, Nagoya, Japan.
⁶ Department of Kinesiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
⁷ Center for Cognitive and Brain Health, Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
⁸ Department of Physical Therapy, Movement, and Rehabilitation Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
⁹ Department of Kinesiology and Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, USA.
¹⁰ Beckman Institute, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign, Champaign 61820, IL, USA.
¹¹ Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan.
¹² Department of Kinesiology, Institute of Sport Science / Institute on Aging, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, South Korea.

Abstract

It is well-documented in the literature that high levels of regular physical activity (PA), low levels of sedentary behavior (SB), and high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are associated with superior cognitive functioning, especially with regard to older populations. However, concerning other age groups (e.g., preschoolers) the available evidence documenting such a positive relationship is relatively scarce. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the association of time spent in different PA intensity zones and CRF with executive functions (EFs) in preschool-age children. To this end, preschoolers (n = 127) aged 3 to 6 years were recruited from 9 kindergarten classes in 2 districts of Shenzhen, China. The amount and the intensity of PA were assessed via accelerometry, and the CRF level was quantified by the 20-meter shuttle run test. EFs including inhibitory control and working memory were assessed using the one-on-one iPad-based Early Year Toolbox. Results suggested that children who had a higher CRF level ("impulse control" scores: β = 0.34, p < .001; "Go" accuracy: β = 0.31, p < .001; "No-Go" accuracy: β =0.28, < .001) and spentmore time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) ("impulse control" scores: β = 0.50, p < .001; No-Go" accuracy: β = 0.52, p < .001) had higher scores on inhibitory control tasks, and those who had a higher CRF level had higher scores on a working memory task (β = 0.24, p < .05). The findings are discussed in light of the positive roles of MVPA and CRF for promoting EFs, but also consider the disproportionate association of PA and CRF with working memory relative to inhibition.

Keywords: Executive function; Fitness; Physical activity; Preschoolers.