The effects of qualitatively different acute physical activity interventions in real-world settings on executive functions in preadolescent children

Jäger, Katja; Schmidt, Mirko; Conzelmann, Achim; Roebers, Claudia (2015). The effects of qualitatively different acute physical activity interventions in real-world settings on executive functions in preadolescent children. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 9(9), pp. 1-9. Elsevier Science 10.1016/j.mhpa.2015.05.002

[img] Text
1-s2.0-S1755296615000186-main.pdf - Published Version
Restricted to registered users only
Available under License Publisher holds Copyright.

Download (474kB)

There is growing evidence indicating a positive effect of acute physical activity on cognitive performance in children. Most of the evidence originates, however, from studies in highly controlled laboratory settings. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the same effects can be found in more real-world settings. We examined the effects of qualitatively different acute physical activity interventions on the three core dimensions of executive functions (updating, inhibition, shifting). In an experimental between-subject design, 219 ten to twelve year-olds were assigned to one of four conditions which varied systematically in physical activation and cognitive engagement. Executive functions were measured before and immediately after the intervention. Contrary to the hypothesis, no effects of acute physical activity with and without cognitive engagement were found on executive functions in the overall sample. Only children with higher fitness and/or higher academic achievement benefitted from the interventions in terms of their updating performance. Thus, the results indicate that it may be more difficult to attain positive effects through acute physical activity in real-world settings than in laboratory settings and that physiological and cognitive requirements may have to be adjusted to individual capacity to make an intervention effective.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

07 Faculty of Human Sciences > Institute of Psychology
07 Faculty of Human Sciences > Institute of Sport Science (ISPW)
07 Faculty of Human Sciences > Institute of Psychology > Developmental Psychology
07 Faculty of Human Sciences > Institute of Sport Science (ISPW) > Sport Psychology and Research Methods

UniBE Contributor:

Jäger, Katja, Schmidt, Mirko, Conzelmann, Achim, Roebers, Claudia

Subjects:

100 Philosophy > 150 Psychology
700 Arts > 790 Sports, games & entertainment

ISSN:

1755-2966

Publisher:

Elsevier Science

Language:

English

Submitter:

Corinne Ammann

Date Deposited:

09 Dec 2015 14:37

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:50

Publisher DOI:

10.1016/j.mhpa.2015.05.002

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Cognition; Acute exercise; Physical education; Fitness; Academic achievement; Individual differences

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.73841

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/73841

Actions (login required)

Edit item Edit item
Provide Feedback