Repository logo
 

Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity, Indices of Cognitive Control, and Academic Achievement in Preadolescents.


Change log

Authors

Pindus, Dominika M 
Drollette, Eric S 
Scudder, Mark R 
Khan, Naiman A 
Raine, Lauren B 

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether preadolescents' objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is associated with cognitive control and academic achievement, independent of aerobic fitness. STUDY DESIGN: A sample of 74 children (Meanage = 8.64 years, SD = .58, 46% girls) were included in the analyses. Daily MVPA (min/d) was measured over 7 days using ActiGraph wGT3X+ accelerometer. Aerobic fitness was measured using a maximal graded exercise test and expressed as maximal oxygen uptake (mL*kg(-1)*min(-1)). Inhibitory control was measured with a modified Eriksen flanker task (reaction time and accuracy), and working memory with an Operation Span Task (accuracy scores). Academic achievement (in reading, mathematics, and spelling) was expressed as standardized scores on the Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement. The relationships were assessed using hierarchical regression models adjusting for aerobic fitness and other covariates. RESULTS: No significant associations were found between MVPA and inhibition, working memory, or academic achievement. Aerobic fitness was positively associated with inhibitory control (P = .02) and spelling (P = .04) but not with other cognitive or academic variables (all P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Aerobic fitness, rather than daily MVPA, is positively associated with childhood ability to manage perceptual interference and spelling. Further research into the associations between objectively measured MVPA and cognitive and academic outcomes in children while controlling for important covariates is needed.

Description

Keywords

Accelerometry, aerobic fitness, children, inhibitory control, standardized academic tests, working memory, Accelerometry, Child, Cognition, Educational Status, Exercise, Exercise Test, Female, Humans, Intelligence, Male, Memory, Short-Term, Oxygen Consumption, Physical Fitness, Reaction Time

Journal Title

J Pediatr

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0022-3476
1097-6833

Volume Title

Publisher

Elsevier BV
Sponsorship
This study was funded in part by a grant from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development HD069381 to Charles Hillman and Arthur Kramer, which also funded the work of Bonnie Hemrick and Jeanine Bensken. Lauren Sherar and Dale Esliger were funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Diet, Lifestyle & Physical Activity Biomedical Research Unit, University Hospitals of Leicester; the National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care – East Midlands (NIHR CLAHRC – EM); Lauren Raine was funded by the National Institute for Agriculture under the Illinois Transdisciplinary Obesity Prevention Program grant (2011-67001-30101); the Hatch Project #ILLU-971-358. The manuscript formed a part of a PhD research by Dominika Pindus funded by the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University. No industry relations were noted for Bonnie Hemrick or Jeanine Bensken. Conflict of interests: Neither authors nor individuals listed in the acknowledgements report any potential, perceived or real conflict of interests in relation to this manuscript.